Early vacations, blackouts, t-shirts in the car, teleworking and everything closed on Wednesday. The Asian response to historic fuel increases contrasts with that of the EU.
Several Asian countries have already started to take concrete measures to counter the rise in oil prices to above 100 dollars per barrel as much as possible, with a global impact.
Many of these countries depend heavily on the oil and gas that passes through the much talked about in recent days, the Strait of Hormuz. Faced with the risk of prolonged supply disruptions, governments are imposing restrictions, rationing and organizational changes to try to reduce demand.
No Sri Lankafor example, the Government decreed Wednesday as closing day for public institutions, schools and universities, keeping only essential services in operation. It also advances that the country is also preparing a National Fuel Passdesigned to limit the amount of fuel each citizen can purchase. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake admitted the gravity of the moment: the country must prepare for the worst, he warned.
Nas Filipinasseveral public bodies began to demand telework at least one day a week. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also banned non-essential travel in the public sector and announced financial support for professional groups most exposed to rising costs, such as motorcyclists, farmers and fishermen.
Already Thailandthe Government began to promote something unusual: the use of non-car t-shirtsto reduce the need for air conditioning.
No Bangladeshwere anticipated university vacation and applied scheduled blackouts.
No Vietnamauthorities encourage the population to stay at home whenever possible, ride a bike, share a car and use public transport.
And in Myanmarprivate vehicles can only circulate on days defined by the registration number.
Although rising prices are putting pressure on the global economy, here (European Union) the response has been different. In the European case, the response will involve “targeted and short-term measures”, but it is not yet known for sure.
Brussels has reinforced that physical security of supply is guaranteed, as the majority of European energy imports come from the United States and Norway, and not directly from the Middle East. But he admitted that we are in a .
