Oil Crisis Pushes Multiple Countries into "Energy-Saving Mode" Four-Day Work Week + Oil Rationing All in Play

As the US-Israel-Iran conflict evolves into the “largest oil supply shock in history,” many countries worldwide have begun energy-saving measures, with policies gradually shifting from soft advocacy to mandatory restrictions.

According to incomplete statistics, the most affected are South Asian and Southeast Asian countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern supplies.

Starting this week, Sri Lanka officially entered a “four-day workweek”—the government announced Wednesday as a holiday for most public institutions. This move is not aimed at improving work-life balance but at saving gasoline. Beginning this Wednesday, government departments, primary and secondary schools, and universities will operate four days a week, while hospitals and other essential services will remain open. Other workers are encouraged to work from home online whenever possible and to use less gasoline.

At the same time, Sri Lanka has introduced a “National Fuel Pass System,” requiring vehicle owners to register to allocate limited fuel purchase quotas.

Bangladesh, the eighth most populous country in the world, already announced the closure of all universities nationwide in early March and ordered all training institutions to suspend classes to conserve electricity. This country, which relies on 95% energy imports, has also shut down several state-owned fertilizer factories, prioritizing natural gas supplies to power plants to prevent large-scale blackouts.

Maldives and Nepal have also implemented rationing systems for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly used for cooking, and are urging households to switch to electric stoves.

Similar situations are happening in India. Facing supply restrictions on LPG, local catering companies have had to simplify wedding menus or seek alternative fuels like charcoal or wood. As sales surge, many brands of electric stoves on Amazon are sold out.

As a well-known global scene, Thai news anchors during live broadcasts took off their jackets and called on the public to reduce air conditioning use or raise the temperature. Thai civil servants are encouraged to work from home, take stairs instead of elevators, and wear more comfortable clothing than suits. State energy giant PTT also announced it would turn off all lighting during lunch breaks and after 7 p.m.

Overall, the current situation has not yet reached the level of the 1970s. During that energy crisis, then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter had to wear a wool sweater during a nationwide televised address, urging Americans to turn down the heat. Media reports from that time indicate that to conserve energy, the White House kept indoor temperatures at only 18°C during the coldest part of the year.

(On February 2, 1977, just two weeks after taking office, Carter delivered a fireside chat from the White House West Wing study)

Today’s situation also reflects changes in the global energy structure. More countries have built up substantial energy reserves, and alternative energy sources have become more diverse.

Nevertheless, some restrictive policies have sparked debate.

After the Iran war outbreak, many countries instinctively limited energy price hikes to ease consumer impact. For example, Germany announced it would prohibit gas stations from raising prices multiple times in one day, and Hungary has set caps on fuel prices. Slovakia’s government on Wednesday allowed gas stations to limit diesel sales and imposed higher prices on foreign-licensed vehicles to combat hoarding and “fuel tourism.”

However, some voices argue that measures solely supporting demand may worsen the crisis.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated on Friday: “Supply-side measures alone cannot fully offset the scale of this shock. Addressing demand is a key and immediate tool to ease consumer pressure.”

The agency issued a call to governments, businesses, and households worldwide, urging office workers to work from home and avoid flying whenever possible. It also recommended considering measures like odd-even license plate restrictions to limit private vehicle access to certain urban areas.

Some unscrupulous merchants are also viewing the energy crisis as a lucrative opportunity. From Germany to Indonesia, regulators report a surge in advertisements for fuel-saving devices since the Iran war outbreak, including products claiming to “alter fuel molecule arrangements with magnets to improve combustion efficiency,” USB encryption dongles, fuel additives, and more, most of which lack real efficacy.

(Article source: Cailian Press)