The energy crisis is striking with new force. Countries are introducing limits on fuel and remote work

Australia and Malaysia announced they would take action to secure energy supplies and reduce rising fuel costs in the face of the armed conflict in the Middle East, Reuters reported on Thursday. Canberra is considering restricting gas exports, and Kuala Lumpur is sending government officials to work remotely.

Australian Natural Resources Minister Madeleine King said the government is considering launching a mechanism that will force exporters to give priority to the local market after the consumer watchdog warned of possible shortages during this year's winter.

– Australians will be a priority in energy supplies during the disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East – emphasized King, adding that a decision on the possible implementation of restrictions will be made by mid-May. As she emphasized, there are currently no restrictions on gas exports, and “the domestic market is well supplied with Australian gas.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Wednesday that from April 15, ministry employees will switch to remote work. – The goal is to reduce fuel consumption and ensure sustainable energy supplies, the head of government noted in a statement regarding expenditure.

The Straits Times reminds that from April the monthly limit for purchasing subsidized RON95 fuel was also reduced from 300 to 200 liters.

Similar solutions are already used by other Asian countries. On Tuesday, the Indonesian government introduced rationing fuel purchases to 50 liters per vehicle per day and mandatory remote work for officials. In turn, the authorities of Bangladesh, where there is already a systematic rationing of the sale of raw materials and the operating hours of gas stations have been significantly shortened, are considering the partial introduction of distance learning at universities.

The US and Israeli air attacks on Iran, which began on February 28, led to Tehran closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's traffic flows under normal conditions. world volume of crude oil and 25 percent liquefied natural gas (LNG). This led to an increase in the prices of energy raw materials around the world.

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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