Bangkok, April 1 -- The Thai Government has announced a three-phase contingency plan to cope with a potential full-scale energy crisis, including fuel rationing and limited operating hours for petrol stations and shopping malls, should the war in the Middle East lead to the closure of two crucial maritime chokepoints.

Nuttaa Mahattana, spokeswoman for the Centre for Monitoring the Situation in the Middle East, said at a press briefing on March 31 that the planning took into account three key issues, including the evolving risk in the Middle East and its implications for Thailand's energy management, examples of how other countries have responded as risk levels rose, and measures being taken by the Ministry of Commerce.

She said while Th...