Work from home and cut frivolous journeys: What countries are telling people to do as oil prices spike

The International Energy Agency, one of the world’s most important energy groups, has issued 10 measures it says governments, businesses, and consumers can take immediately to help ease the impact of disruptions in oil markets.

These include working from home, avoiding air travel, and encouraging the use of electric cooking equipment.

Other steps include reducing highway speed limits by at least six miles per hour, car sharing, cutting air travel, and using public transport more.

The IEA said in the report that “the demand-side measures highlighted in the report cannot match the scale of disrupted supply.”

However, it said “they can play a meaningful role in lowering costs for consumers, reducing markets strains and preserving fuels for essential uses until normal flows resume.”

The Philippines has taken several measures in order to bring down energy use, including a four-day workweek for government staff and orders to cut the use of electricity and fuel costs in government agencies.

Government offices were told in early March to implement flexible working arrangements where practical, turn off lights and computers during lunch breaks, and adjust air conditioning unit thermostats to no lower than 75 degrees.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a video message that the four-day workweek would be temporary and does not include emergency services.

“With the expected global oil price increase, the government is preparing measures to reduce its impact on Filipino families,” the Facebook caption for the video said.

The Philippines is vulnerable to disruptions caused by the conflict, as it “relies on the Middle East for almost 90% of its oil supply,” according to ING Think.

On March 18, Marcos said that the country is seeking alternative sources of petroleum products and asked the public not to worry.

“We are trying to find different methods to provide subsidies to give assistance,” said Marcos in a press address. “The problem is that oil prices are very volatile. We can’t anticipate them. So we are still adjusting right now.”

While no official rationing has been implemented in Australia, local media in at least two of the country’s states reported that some fuel stations had begun limiting the amount of fuel customers can buy.

In comments to the media on Monday, March 9, Australia’s energy minister Chris Bowen said that there is no shortage of fuel in Australia, but there are “some supply chain issues which are really being caused by a spike in demand of people seeking to buy extra diesel.”

The president of the AA, the UK’s largest motoring organization, advised drivers on Monday, March 9, that although they “should not change their refuelling habits,” they could “consider cutting out some non-essential journeys and changing their driving style to conserve fuel.”

Edmund King, AA’s president, added: “Any time Brent Crude passes 100 dollars per barrel raises concern across the markets, for the haulage industry and drivers.

“There will be gradual increases in pump prices, but this shouldn’t happen overnight as fuel has been purchased at previous prices.”

Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, said that the government would support citizens during the oil price spike.

“No matter the headwinds, supporting working people and their families with the cost of living is always top of my mind,” he said.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urged citizens not to stockpile fuel. His comments came after long lines formed at gas stations across the country last week.

In early March, Anutin and the country’s energy minister gave assurances that the diesel price would be capped for at least 15 days. He said that the Commerce Ministry was closely monitoring oil prices to prevent customer exploitation.

“Stockpiling fuel is dangerous. If you store it at home, it could accidentally cause fire — it could lead to all sorts of problems,” he said. “There is no need to do that today.”

The Indian government invoked emergency powers on March 10 to divert liquefied petroleum gas supplies away from industrial users and toward households.

This was an expansion of previous measures. On March 9, India had ordered oil refineries to produce more LPG and said it was prioritizing that supply for households.

India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a tweet on Monday that non-domestic supplies from imported LPG were being prioritized for essential sectors, such as hospitals and educational institutions.

Vietnam has urged local businesses to encourage employees to work from home in order to save fuel.

This comes after the country said it would remove tariffs on fuel imports.

Pakistan has ordered measures to conserve fuel and reduce government spending, including implementing a four-day work week, having half of public sector employees work from home, and closing schools for two weeks.

Other measures include a pause on salaries for cabinet ministers and cutting government spending by 20%, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on March 10.

Sri Lanka has made Wednesdays a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country braces for potential fuel shortages, according to the BBC.

“We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best,” President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on March 9.

The shortened workweek will apply to schools and universities, but “essential” services like hospitals will keep the lights on.

Denmark is urging citizens to reduce fuel.

“What the Danes should please, please, please do is that if there is any energy consumption that you can do without, if it is not strictly necessary to drive the car, then don’t do it,” Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s energy and utilities minister, said during an interview with a local broadcaster on Wednesday.

“Firstly, it can be felt in the private wallet, and secondly, it can help stretch our reserves so that they last longer,” Aagaard added.

Bangladesh’s university students just got an early start to their Ramadan holidays, thanks to fuel conservation measures.

The country announced by mid-March that main colleges could cancel classes until later in the month. The government has shut down campuses completely to save electricity and has started imposing temporary blackouts for other facilities.

Egypt is enforcing some lifestyle changes to conserve gas and oil.

For a country that is used to shopping and dining well into the night, malls, restaurants, and retailers are being asked to shut down at 9 p.m. on weekdays starting on March 28.

The country also announced plans to turn off illuminated billboards and reduce public lighting, and to close government buildings by 6 p.m.