A severe fuel crisis has gripped Myanmar, forcing residents across major cities and border regions into long queues reminiscent of the country’s socialist “co-operative” era. The shortages, fueled by Middle East tensions and new border restrictions, have sparked widespread panic as the military authorities introduce a strict rationing scheme.
In cities including Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, and even the capital, Naypyidaw, citizens are reporting hours-long waits at petrol stations. One resident in Mandalay told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA) that the crisis has become so acute that many find it impossible to attend to medical emergencies or family obligations. “If you try to buy a bicycle because there is no fuel, those prices have also skyrocketed,” she said. “Walking is all that’s left”.
The anxiety has been heightened by a recent junta directive mandating an “odd-even” driving schedule. Starting March 7, 2026, private and commercial vehicles will only be permitted to operate on alternate days based on the final digit of their license plates.
The crisis is particularly severe in northern and eastern border states. On March 3, 2026, Thailand suspended fuel exports to Myanmar, leading to the immediate closure of petrol stations in Tachileik, Lashio, and Kutkai.
In Kutkai, currently controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), local truck drivers report that fuel routes from the Chinese and Wa borders have been blocked by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). “They have blocked routes from Chin Shwe Haw, Muse, and Namhkam,” a driver explained. Residents in these areas report that the blockades are extending beyond fuel to include essential medicines and food supplies.
Despite the visible lines at stations, the junta’s Petroleum Products Regulatory Department told Voice of Myanmar on March 3, 2026, that there are sufficient reserves and that distribution remains normal.
However, many citizens remain unconvinced. An older resident in Meiktila recalled the hardships of past decades, where people queued until midnight only to receive a single gallon of fuel for the week. “The black market will return,” she warned. “I don’t want to go back to that era”.
As the military authorities implement rationing to ensure “sufficiency,” analysts suggest that the combination of international shipping disruptions and internal conflicts between ethnic armed groups is pushing Myanmar’s energy security to a breaking point.
