Petrol stations may be ordered to close from 10pm to 5am after Songkran, to help conserve fuel, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned on Tuesday.

Mr Anutin said an overnight ban on pump sales could begin as early as April 20, but would not affect travellers during the Songkran festival, which is from April 11 to 15.

“Petrol station closing hours will start after people return from their Songkran trips and resume normal life. As I said earlier, people will be able to visit their hometowns during Songkran,” he said.

The prime minister said the government would try all possible means to save energy and control oil consumption as long as the disruption to supply caused by the Middle East war continues.

Late Monday night, after a special cabinet meeting, Mr Anutin warned that pump prices would remain high, with limited supply because of the war.