TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The European Union has urged people across the bloc to work from home and reduce speed limits on motorways as it grapples with an energy crisis triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“Even if … peace is here tomorrow, still we will not go back to normal in the foreseeable future,” EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said on Tuesday, March 31.
“The more you can do to save oil — especially diesel and jet fuel — the better off we are,” he said.
Jorgensen called on EU member states to follow recommendations from the International Energy Agency (IEA), including expanding remote work arrangements and lowering maximum motorway speed limits by 10 kilometers per hour.
He also encouraged greater use of public transportation, carpooling, and fuel-efficient driving practices to help reduce demand.
The appeal comes as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy supplies, fueling shortages and pushing up prices worldwide.
On March 2, Iran announced restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and warned that vessels passing through without permission could be targeted.
Roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait each day, making it one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Any disruption there has immediate repercussions for oil prices, shipping costs, and insurance premiums.
With uncertainty in the region showing little sign of easing, European officials say demand-cutting measures may be needed to cushion the impact of prolonged supply disruptions.
Read: Indonesia's Fuel Supply Stable as Southeast Asia Reels from Iran Tensions
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