Triage on a global scale — how the world’s governments are navigating the global energy shock

🪫 The energy crisis is far from over: On 28 March, the Madbouly government set into motion a round of austerity measures aimed at preserving energy and curbing the ballooning energy bill amidst the catastrophic oil disruptions from the US-Israel-Iran war. To accommodate Easter week holidays, the curfew — initially set at 9pm for commercial activities — was extended to 11pm through 27 April on account of the US-Iran ceasefire.

It remains up in the air whether these commercial measures — which have thrown Egypt’s F&B entrepreneurs for a loop — will continue following the 27th, which marks the end of the initial one-month period. However, the extension to 11pm wasn’t a signal that the energy crisis is over— and we believe we might be in for round two soon.

Why we’re not out of the woods just yet

A long way to go: Even if a comprehensive peace agreement is reached, the global energy repercussions from the war will not go away anytime soon (watch, runtime: 14:30). The current shock — which head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned is more severe than the combined oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 — has seen global oil supply drop by some 11 mn bbl / d, a loss of more than 10%. There is no quick recovery for this, and a return to pre-war conditions will take a significant amount of time. Long-term infrastructure damage to key energy facilities, including the Ras Laffan complex in Qatar — the largest LNG processor in the world — will severely delay recovery.

Experts warn that even if the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is quickly stabilized, it could take years for oil and gas output and shipping to pick up pace. Aviation analysts project that the flow of fuel through the region will initially be reduced even if a ceasefire holds.

Global response

The world’s leading agencies and governments are doing what they can to soften the blow. The International Monetary Fund is calling for countries to adopt carefully calibrated policies, offering vulnerable nations policy advice, capacity development, and financial assistance. Similarly, the International Energy Agency has been coordinating with governments in Europe and Asia regarding the potential release of more oil from strategic reserves.

So, how are countries aside from Om El Donia faring? And what energy-curbing measures do they have in place?

Asia is bearing the brunt of the crisis as it relies more heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports than almost anywhere else — many Asian countries were already facing energy shortages before the war even began. Surging fuel prices threatened thousands of flight cancellations and the cutting of several routes, causing tourism to take a hit. South Asian hotel occupancy has dropped by 80-90%, according to the New York Times.

The financial cost is estimated at up to USD 299 bn in Asia, according to the United Nations. The human cost is just as significant, with 8.8 mn people at risk of falling into poverty, according to data cited by NYT.

The measures being taken throughout the globe

In response to the global energy shock, government measures broadly fall into three distinct categories, according to the International Energy Agency’s Policy Response Tracker:

A large coalition across Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific is prioritizing immediate relief. Nations such as Germany, Poland, Australia, and Brazil have slashed fuel excise duties, lowered energy taxes, or cut VAT on petrol and diesel. Meanwhile, Austria, Croatia, Mexico, and Japan have taken regulatory steps to freeze retail fuel prices.

Rather than relying solely on blanket tax cuts, a second group has focused on vulnerable populations and essential sectors. Governments in the Philippines, Greece, and Italy have directed specialized financial relief toward exposed industries such as agriculture, fisheries, and transport. Ireland, South Korea, and Pakistan have introduced specific energy vouchers and extended fuel allowances for low-income households, pensioners, and people with disabilities.

Many countries — particularly across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa — are aggressively enforcing energy conservation mandates to physically curb demand. Governments in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and most recently, Belgium, have instituted shortened workweeks, mandated remote work for civil servants, shifted schools to online classes, and restricted non-essential travel. Furthermore, enforcing strict air conditioning limits and rationing cooking gas have become widespread strategies.

In short: government interventions are being pushed to their limits. While extensive measures have been deployed to shield residents, many of these economies entered the crisis with high debt and little room to absorb a shock of this scale. This is short-term triage as the world gears up for a prolonged recovery — ceasefire, peace agreement, or otherwise.

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