COUNTRIES TIGHTEN ENERGY CONSUMPTION AS WEST ASIA CONFLICT PERSISTS 

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- The impact of the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which entered its 11th day on Tuesday, continues to reverberate worldwide, as disruptions to global oil and gas supplies trigger fuel shortages, price hikes and energy-saving measures in several countries.

Several governments have begun implementing emergency measures to manage energy consumption and maintain supplies as volatility in global oil markets intensifies amid continued attacks and instability in West Asia.

In India, authorities have taken steps to regulate natural gas production and distribution to ensure adequate supply for priority sectors, including households and transportation, amid disruptions to liquefied natural gas shipments caused by the conflict, according to Anadolu Ajansi.

Lawmakers in the country have also raised alarm over shortages of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), with hotels and restaurants in major cities such as Mumbai reportedly forced to shut operations due to a lack of cooking gas supplies, according to Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Egypt and Sri Lanka have increased domestic fuel prices in response to surging global energy costs linked to the conflict.

Egypt raised petrol and diesel prices by between 14 and 17 per cent, while Sri Lanka also increased retail fuel prices, citing volatile crude markets.

Pakistan has announced austerity measures to conserve fuel, including cutting government vehicle fuel allocations by half and implementing work-from-home arrangements for both public and private sector employees, while schools will temporarily close for two weeks to reduce energy consumption.

Similar steps have been adopted elsewhere in Asia, with Thailand directing government agencies to implement work-from-home arrangements and suspend overseas trips to reduce energy use.

Vietnam has also encouraged remote working, public transport use and other fuel-saving measures as authorities monitor the impact of the West Asia conflict on fuel supplies and global energy markets.

Beyond economic repercussions, military hostilities across the region continue to intensify.

In southern Lebanon, four people were injured after Israeli airstrikes hit several towns, including Breykaah, Kfarsir and Deir Antar, destroying a residential building and triggering artillery shelling in nearby areas, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.

In Iran, nine hospitals have ceased operations following US-Israeli airstrikes, while dozens of healthcare facilities and ambulances have been damaged since the conflict began, the German Press Agency (DPA) reported, citing Iranian sources.

The Iranian ambassador to Malaysia Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi said at least 2,000 people had been killed in Iran since Feb 28, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolgirls, while Tehran has vowed to continue defending its sovereignty against US and Israeli attacks.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said it had shot down three MQ-9 drones over Bushehr province and Tehran using its air defence systems, Mehr News Agency reported.

Regional security concerns have prompted several countries to take precautionary measures.

Iraq has extended the closure of its airspace for another 72 hours due to the deteriorating security situation, while authorities continue to monitor developments linked to the conflict, according to Qatar News Agency.

Australia has announced the deployment of an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and advanced air-to-air missiles to the Gulf region to help protect Australian citizens and support regional airspace security, Anadolu reported.

Air defence systems across the Gulf have also been activated following a series of missile and drone attacks.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said its air defences intercepted incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, while Saudi Arabia reported destroying a ballistic missile and two drones targeting its eastern region, Anadolu reported.

In Bahrain, authorities said one person was killed and several others injured after an Iranian strike hit a residential building in the capital, Manama.

The ongoing conflict has also triggered evacuations and international assistance efforts.

China said more than 10,000 of its citizens have returned from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia following coordinated evacuation efforts, Xinhua reported.

Singapore has deployed an air force aircraft to Riyadh to evacuate its nationals from the region, while Malaysia launched an evacuation mission using a chartered Malaysia Airlines aircraft to bring home around 200 Malaysians stranded in several West Asian countries.

Azerbaijan has meanwhile dispatched nearly 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food and medicines, to Iran to support civilians affected by the ongoing crisis, the Azerbaijan State News Agency reported.

The United Nations (UN) has warned that strikes on oil refineries and other infrastructure could worsen environmental damage and public health risks across the region, while more than 500,000 people have reportedly been displaced in Lebanon amid continuing cross-border hostilities.

Despite the escalating conflict, Asian stock markets rebounded after US President Donald Trump suggested the confrontation with Iran could be nearing an end, with Brent crude prices falling sharply after previously surging above US$100 per barrel.

-- BERNAMA