Denmark's energy minister has urged the Scandinavian country's citizens to reduce energy consumption and ditch their cars as oil prices continue to soar amid conflict in the Middle East.
Lars Aagaard, Denmark's climate, energy and utilities minister, said on Wednesday that the ongoing war between the US and Iran has led the country to rely on its oil reserves given “exorbitant oil prices” with no end to the conflict in sight.
“What the Danes should do, please, please, if there's any energy consumption you can do without, if it's not strictly necessary to drive the car, then don't do it,” he said in an interview with local TV station DR, according to CNBC.
If Denmark saves energy in the near future, there will be two positive effects that can be felt by both the citizens and the government, he said.
“First, this can be felt in everyone's wallet, and second, it can help stretch our reserves so they last longer,” Aagaard said.
Brent crude rose nearly 9 percent to above $100 a barrel in early Asian trade on Thursday, even after all 32 members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced they would release 400 million barrels in response to supply concerns.
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