PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), the retail arm of Thailand’s state-owned PTT Group, has launched a pilot program for a self-service fuel system at select stations, aiming to address labor shortages and rising minimum wages. The initiative, which began in early April, allows customers to refuel their vehicles without assistance from attendants and includes an immediate discount of 0.40 baht per liter.

ML Peekthong Thongyai, OR’s chief executive, described the project as a response to consumer demand for faster and more cost-effective service. The system, based on an "easy & smart" concept, enables customers to fully manage the refueling process using the Blue-plus+ smartphone application or their PTT membership cards. Notably, the program does not impose a minimum fuel purchase requirement to receive the discount.

Currently, OR operates 11 self-service stations and plans to expand the model to more than 50 locations nationwide by the end of 2026. Drivers interested in participating stations can check availability via the Blueplus+ app.

The adoption of self-service fueling in Thailand marks a continuation of efforts dating back over 15 years, though such systems have yet to achieve widespread acceptance similar to markets in the United States or Europe. Presently, PTT Station and Bangkok Corporation are the only operators with self-service outlets, while Bangchak, an early pioneer of the model since 2005, maintains 40 self-service stations and offers a 0.30 baht per liter discount. Both OR and Bangchak cite reduced congestion during peak hours and providing more affordable fuel access as primary motivations.

Beyond operational efficiency, rising minimum wage levels in Thailand are expected to further drive interest and adoption of self-service fueling, according to ML Peekthong.

In a related development, both OR and Bangchak have announced expansions in the sale of biodiesel B20 blends at their retail stations. This fuel consists of 80% conventional diesel and 20% palm oil-derived methyl ester and is priced lower than the B7 diesel blend, which contains a 7% methyl ester ratio. B20 is targeted primarily at transportation, industrial, and agricultural sectors.

Bangchak has conducted pilot sales at two stations in Amphawa district of Samut Songkhram and Si Racha district in Chon Buri before moving toward a nationwide rollout involving 40 service points. Meanwhile, OR has initiated trial sales at PTT Stations in Saraburi and Singhanakhon, Songkhla.

Both companies emphasize that the increased availability of B20 biodiesel supports national efforts to reduce reliance on imported oil and promotes the use of domestically produced palm-based fuel alternatives.