The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will summon PC Siam Petroleum in Surat Thani and ask them to clarify allegations of oil hoarding by the company, as the case may be treated as a special case.
A task force responsible for carrying out the investigation into the case, led by DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, held an urgent meeting on Saturday to establish investigative frameworks.
The move came after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the DSI to collect data on oil stockpiling at storage facilities and consider designating the case as a special case.
Since the data needed is dispersed across multiple agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, Surat Thani Provincial Police, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center (Thai-MECC), the Department of Energy Business and the Marine Department, a centralised war room will be set up to monitor developments and consolidate intelligence.
Inspections conducted on Wednesday at six major oil depots in Surat Thani uncovered alleged irregularities.
PC Siam Petroleum in particular was allegedly stockpiling 2 million litres of oil, and significant discrepancies in its inventory, sales and intakes in February and March were identified by investigators.
The company will be summoned to clarify these alleged inconsistencies, said a source familiar with the case.
Such actions may violate the Price of Goods and Services Act, the source said.
The case could proceed as a special case, though it requires approval from the DSI's Board of Special Case due to its criminal nature.
The DSI is expected to finalise and submit the case file to the board next week.
Meanwhile, PTT Oil and Retail Business and Caltex had cooperated with regulators in inspections of oil storage and transport in Surat Thani, reaffirming transparency and compliance, the companies said.
PTT said authorities examined March's data on inflows, outflows and inventories and found the operations had met required standards with no evidence of stockpiling or irregularities.
Star Fuels Marketing of Star Petroleum Refining Plc, which operates Caltex in Thailand, on Saturday said its fuel management and marine transport complied with safety, quality and legal requirements.
Regarding the disappearance of over 57 million litres of oil during maritime transport, authorities said that at least 20 voyages have shown suspicious delays, suggesting possible offshore stockpiling.
The Thai-MECC is leading the probe and will forward findings to the DSI, they said.
