PHOTO: AFP

REUTERS

Countries across Asia are weighing up work-from-home policies and stimulus measures enforced during the Covid pandemic, as they scramble to respond to global fuel shortages triggered by the Iran war.

Asia is at the frontline of the fuel crisis, buying more than 80 percent of the crude that transits the Strait of Hormuz, which has been almost totally blocked by Iran since the war broke out on ‌February 28.

Driver Joseph Orinion says gas prices have doubled in recent months due to the crisis in the Middle East.

No country in the region has enforced work-from-home measures yet, but some have said they are on the table.

“I think it is a good idea,” South Korean Energy Minister Kim Sung-whan said on Tuesday when asked about an International Energy Agency recommendation for people to work from home.

The IEA, which agreed a record release of around 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles to deal with the crisis, has outlined proposals to ease oil ​price pressures such as working from home and avoiding air travel.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol repeated those calls at a conference in Sydney this week.

“There were real-life tests, such ​as after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European countries adopted these measures, and it was announced by the European governments. It helped them a lot to go through these difficult times without Russian energy ... but keeping the lights on,” Birol said.

Industrial powerhouse South Korea on Tuesday launched a public campaign asking people to cut shower time, charge ​phones during the day and run vacuums on weekends. “We will consult with relevant ministries and actively consider measures for work-from-home,” Energy Minister Kim told a briefing.

The Philippines, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern ​oil for its energy needs, shortened the work week in some government offices earlier this month. President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency saying the conflict poses an “imminent danger” to the country’s energy supply.

Pakistan closed schools for two weeks and said office workers would work more from home. The island nation of Sri Lanka declared a public holiday every Wednesday to help make its fuel supplies go further.

Singapore, an Asian financial hub, urged people and ​businesses to switch to energy-efficient appliances, use electric vehicles and set the temperature higher on their air conditioners.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered bureaucrats to suspend overseas trips, set air conditioning temperatures ​above 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), avoid suits and ties, use stairs instead of elevators, and work from home.