War on Iran: Can fuel rationing, remote work and short sleeves ease oil woes? | War between the United States and Israel against Iran News

The US-Israel war against Iran has shaken global energy markets, as countries struggle to secure fuel, conserve supplies and rethink exports.

Tehran has effectively stopped most traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea route between the Gulf – also known as the Arabian Gulf and Persian Gulf – and the Gulf of Oman, which supplies a fifth of the world’s oil, in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks, which began on February 28.

With tanker traffic severely reduced and crude oil prices surpassing $100, major oil-importing countries such as Bangladesh and Thailand are looking for solutions to avoid a domestic crisis, including diversifying crude suppliers and rationing fuel.

However, analysts doubt that any alternative can guarantee long-term energy stability, as the Middle East remains the world’s largest supplier of oil and gas.

Here are four strategies that countries are implementing to alleviate the impact of war on their fuel needs:

Returning to Russia and other suppliers

India has resumed buying Russian oil after suspending imports from its former ally following US sanctions against Moscow’s biggest oil producers.

This, after the United States temporarily exempted India from sanctions for the purchase of Russian oil shipments currently stranded at sea, with the aim of avoiding disruptions to global supply and curbing further increases in energy prices. The 30-day waiver would end in early April, but the Trump administration can extend it.

“Russian oil can help cushion a short-term supply shock, but its usefulness depends on two uncertain conditions: that Russian barrels remain available and that the discount remains significant,” energy expert Tatiana Mitrova, a fellow at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, told Al Jazeera.

In theory, the estimated 120 million to 140 million barrels of Russian oil “in the water” could cover weeks of imports from India, Mitrova said. However, he cautioned that, in practice, only a fraction can be quickly redirected due to logistical and refinery limitations.

The “discount” Mitrova referred to is a subsidized rate at which Russia sold oil to India from 2022 to the end of 2025, when Europe and other traditional buyers rejected Russian crude amid the Ukraine war. Desperate to sell its oil, Russia was offering discounts to India. However, with Russian oil now in high demand due to the war in Iran and the chokehold on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it is unclear whether Russia continues to offer crude oil to India at subsidized prices.

At the same time, China, another major buyer, could compete for the same barrels, reducing discounts and bringing prices closer to global benchmarks if disruptions continue, Mitrova said.

“Russian oil is a useful tactical buffer, but not a durable shield,” he added.

Analyst Abhi Rajendran said the current disruption is much larger than past crises, and the volume of oil and gas flowing from the Middle East that has now been blocked cannot be quickly replaced.

Rajendran, a non-resident fellow at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, said other major oil and gas exporters, such as the United States and Norway, would need months to increase their production, and only the release of inventories can partially close the gap.

He also noted that crude oil produced by different countries varies in quality and that refineries in different countries are configured for different grades. Oil produced in one country is not an automatic substitute for crude oil exported from another nation.

fuel rationing

Many governments are resorting to fuel rationing to cope with the situation. Sri Lanka, for example, has introduced a QR code-based fuel authorization system to regulate the distribution of gasoline and diesel amid supply pressures. The scheme, launched on March 15, requires vehicle owners to present a unique QR code obtained after registering their vehicles online before purchasing fuel.

At fuel stations, attendants scan the QR code to verify the vehicle and track their weekly fuel quota. Limits vary depending on vehicle type; For example, cars can receive up to 15 liters per week, while the cap is 5 liters for motorcycles, officials said.

Bangladesh imposed similar restrictions on March 6, introducing daily limits on fuel sales following reports of stockpiling and panic buying.

However, Dhaka authorities said on Sunday that the limits would be suspended, citing sufficient reserves and the need to meet increased demand during the upcoming Eid holidays.

Alternative shipping routes

Iraq, a major oil exporter, is exploring alternative routes to transport its crude.

Oil Ministry spokesman Saheb Bazoun said last week that Iraq had several shipments stuck at sea and that crude oil sales, which provide about 90 percent of state revenue, had fallen sharply.

To ease the pressure, Baghdad has proposed exporting at least 200,000-250,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Kirkuk via the pipeline to Ceyhan in Turkiye, which crosses the northern Kurdish region. However, talks with Kurdish authorities have stalled, Reuters and AFP news agencies reported.

Remote work, austerity measures

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand have announced their work-from-home policies for government employees and have recommended similar measures for private employees.

Pakistan has introduced a four-day work week for government employees, with 50 percent of staff working from home on a rotating basis.

Vietnam has asked companies to allow people to work from home to reduce the need for transportation.

In addition to requiring remote work, the Thai government has asked its employees to use stairs to reduce elevator use and encouraged online meetings to help save fuel. It has also asked government employees to wear short sleeves and avoid suits to minimize cooling costs in offices.

Academic Fengqi You said remote work can reduce oil demand – mainly by reducing commuting – but its national impact is limited. “Working from home is useful for short-term crises and long-term energy planning,” You, a professor of energy systems engineering at Cornell University, told Al Jazeera.

However, he noted, “it’s just one part of a broader strategy, along with cleaner electricity, building efficiency and electrified transportation.”