economy
Fuel rations and no air con: south-east Asian nations race to conserve energy
Governments in countries heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil introduce measures to shield public from soaring costs
TL;DR
- Governments in Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam are implementing energy-saving measures due to global oil supply disruptions.
- Measures include reducing air conditioning use, adopting four-day work weeks, and encouraging work-from-home policies.
- Financial aid, such as cash handouts for drivers, is being provided to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs.
- Panic buying and stock shortages are occurring at petrol stations in Thailand.
- Countries are exploring alternative energy sources, such as increasing biofuel blends.
- Governments are seeking to increase access to crude oil from international partners.
- The crisis is significantly impacting the livelihoods of transport workers, with reduced incomes and rising operational costs.
- The long-term sustainability of subsidies is questioned due to budget pressures.
- Emergency powers have been granted in the Philippines to allow for temporary tax adjustments on oil.
- Specific examples include news anchors ditching jackets in Thailand and an elephant camp walking elephants to work in Ayutthaya due to fuel rationing.