The quiet release of an emergency energy playbook has sparked global concern, with some warning to ‘get ready for lockdown 2.0’ if fuel shortages worsen.
The guidance comes from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which last week released its report ‘Sheltering From Oil Shocks’ outlining 10 steps countries could take if supplies tighten.
The report was issued in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has all but choked off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil routes, triggering fears of prolonged shortages and soaring fuel prices.
Among the recommendations are expanding remote work where possible, reducing highway speed limits and cutting back on air travel to limit strain on global supplies.
The IEA also suggests shifting travel from private cars to public transportation and restricting vehicle access in major cities on alternating days based on license plates.
It further proposed increasing carpooling, adopting fuel-efficient driving practices and diverting liquefied petroleum gas away from vehicles to preserve supplies for essential uses.
Several of the measures, if adopted, would require sweeping changes to daily routines, particularly in major cities heavily dependent on private vehicles and air travel.
While the watchdog said the steps are intended to help countries stretch limited supplies, stabilize markets and shield households from the worst effects, the 10 measures have sparked fury online.
Many social media users linked the report to Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, with some writing: ‘We’re not doing this again.’
The IEA found that adding three additional work-from-home days per week for eligible workers could reduce national oil consumption from passenger vehicles by 2 to 6 per cent
Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil and another five million barrels of refined oil products typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, accounting for about 20 per cent of global oil consumption.
With shipments disrupted, crude oil prices have already surged above $100 per barrel, sending shockwaves through global markets and raising alarm among countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern supplies.
Even short disruptions to traffic through the strait can ripple across global supply chains within days, driving up fuel costs and straining economies worldwide.
The report lays out a sweeping list of changes aimed at cutting energy demand across daily life, with many of the most immediate steps focused on transportation, one of the world’s largest sources of oil consumption.
The IEA found that adding three additional work-from-home days per week for eligible worker could reduce national oil consumption from passenger vehicles by 2 to 6 per cent, while individual drivers could cut their own fuel use by as much as 20 per cent.
Reducing highway speed limits by about six miles per hour could lower fuel consumption for individual drivers by 5 to 10 per cent, while cutting national oil use for private cars by 1 to 6 per cent.
Heavy freight trucks, which typically operate at lower speeds, could still achieve savings of around 5 per cent.
The IEA also urged governments to shift more travelers onto public transportation, including buses and trains, which could reduce national oil demand for cars by 1 to 3 per cent.
The report also suggested reducing highway speed limits by about six miles per hour to lower fuel consumption for individual drivers by 5 to 10 per cent
Encouraging walking and cycling for shorter trips would deliver even greater reductions.
In densely populated cities, officials recommend limiting private vehicle access on alternating days based on license plate numbers, a strategy designed to reduce congestion, engine idling and fuel-intensive stop-and-go driving.
Such measures could cut national car oil use by 1 to 5 per cent.
The report also highlighted the role of car sharing and more efficient driving habits, such as maintaining proper tire pressure, limiting air conditioning use and avoiding aggressive acceleration.
When combined, these steps could reduce fuel demand for passenger vehicles by up to 8 per cent.
Commercial transportation is another major target. The agency said eco-driving practices for delivery trucks and freight vehicles, including optimizing loads, reducing unnecessary braking and limiting idling, could lower fuel consumption for commercial road transport by 3 to 5 per cent.
In areas where vehicles rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the IEA suggested shifting those vehicles back to gasoline where possible, preserving limited LPG supplies for critical uses such as cooking and household heating.
Taken together, the recommendations reflect a worst-case planning scenario designed to prevent widespread shortages if global oil flows remain disrupted.
Beyond road transport, the report warns that aviation, household energy use and industry must also adapt if shortages worsen.
One of the most dramatic recommendations calls for slashing business air travel by as much as 40 per cent, a move the agency said could significantly reduce jet fuel demand worldwide.
The IEA estimated that cutting business-related flights at that scale could lower global jet fuel demand by 7 to 15 per cent, particularly if companies widely adopt virtual meetings.
Households are also urged to prepare for potential cooking fuel shortages by switching to electric or alternative cooking methods, particularly in regions heavily dependent on LPG supplies.
Industrial operations are also under scrutiny, with the report urging facilities to prioritize available fuel sources and improve maintenance practices, steps that could reduce oil use in individual facilities by up to 5 per cent.
