Energy Crisis Due to Conflict in Iran
The war in Iran and subsequent disruptions in the operation of the Strait of Hormuz have caused energy chaos and a potential threat of significant oil shortages. To counter this, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed that a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, implement measures such as lowering speed limits and restricting car usage times.
Urgent Measures from the World Energy Watchdog
The world energy watchdog insists that urgent measures, similar to those implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, are needed to combat the rapid rise in oil prices and supply problems. In addition to proposals to lower speed limits, the agency is calling on governments to encourage greater use of shared transport, including public transport and carpooling, and to advise citizens to limit air travel.
UK Plans to Reduce Oil Demand
While the UK insists that there is currently no fuel shortage, officials from the Department for Transport are working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to identify ways to reduce oil demand. If they heed the IEA’s proposals, they could redirect liquefied petroleum gas supplies from the transport sector to the energy sector.
Priorities in Case of Government Intervention
If the UK government needs to intervene, existing plans provide for priority fuel supply to critical service vehicles. Supplies will also be directed to public transport operators, while private car owners will have the amount of fuel they can buy per visit to a filling station limited. Fuel stations may also close at night.
Call for Calm and Efficient Driving
Despite the possibility of implementing a range of measures, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero insists that drivers should continue to refuel as usual and avoid panic buying of petrol in large volumes. Importantly, more than half of the crude oil imported by the UK comes from the USA and Norway, so the country does not rely exclusively on oil from the Middle East.
Drivers can be assured that fuel supplies are sufficient, and people should not change their refuelling habits. Nevertheless, advice on driving as efficiently as possible is something drivers could always apply to save both fuel and money. It is useful to reduce speed and brake less sharply. Also, combining trips helps save fuel.
Proposals to lower speed limits, especially on highways, indicate that even simple measures can have a significant impact on national fuel consumption. This approach not only responds to an acute crisis but also highlights the broader need for energy efficiency in the transport sector. The experience of past crises, such as the pandemic, shows that society is capable of adapting to temporary restrictions when they are clearly explained and aimed at the common good. In the long term, such situations could accelerate the transition to alternative fuels and changes in mobility patterns, making economies more resilient to geopolitical shocks.