April 28 (Reuters) - Governments worldwide are trying to shield consumers from soaring energy costs resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Here's how different countries are responding:
UK
** Britain is looking to force older wind and solar generators onto fixed contracts in a bid to bring down consumer bills.
THE NETHERLANDS
** The Dutch government announced temporary tax breaks to compensate for rising fuel prices and said it would prepare further measures in case the energy crisis worsens.
SWEDEN**
Sweden's government will cut fuel taxes and hike electricity subsidies in its spring mini-budget as it strives to ease the pain for households of higher energy bills driven by the war.
INDIA
** India has asked motorists to avoid panic buying, saying there was no proposal to raise pump prices for diesel and gasoline, according to a government official.
** India further raised a windfall tax on exports of diesel and aviation turbine fuel to ensure adequate domestic supply.
** The country has barred consumers with piped natural gas from retaining or refilling LPG cylinders and has invoked emergency powers directing refiners to maximise LPG production, widely used for cooking.
SOUTH KOREA
** South Korea is easing limits on coal-fired power generation capacity and raising nuclear plant utilisation to as high as 80%.
** It has begun enforcing a ban on naphtha exports to boost domestic supplies.
CHINA
** China has banned refined fuel exports to pre-empt a potential domestic fuel shortage, four sources said.
** In mid-March, Beijing banned exports of nitrogen-potassium fertiliser blends and certain phosphate varieties, sources told Reuters.
AUSTRALIA
** Australia is releasing petrol/gasoline and diesel from domestic reserves to ease shortages affecting rural supply chains, mining and agriculture.
** Its prime minister has encouraged citizens to use public transport.
JAPAN
** Japan said it will relax rules for the fiscal year that began in April to increase the use of coal-fired power plants. The country has also opened up its oil stockpiles, rolled out gasoline subsidies and is seeking energy supplies beyond the Middle East.
** The country plans to increase imports of intermediate chemical products such as plastics, as it faces tighter naphtha supplies due to the conflict.
EUROPEAN UNION
** The European Union is considering requiring countries to hold stockpiles of jet fuel and potentially redistribute it based on regional needs and shortages.
** The European Commission set out plans to cut electricity taxes and coordinate the summer refill of countries' gas storage.
BANGLADESH
** Bangladesh is seeking billions in external financing to secure fuel and liquefied natural gas imports.
SERBIA
** Serbia will cut excise duties on crude oil by a cumulative 60% and has extended a ban on crude oil and fuel product exports to safeguard its domestic market.
ITALY
** Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said Italy is considering cutting excise duties to soften fuel prices and is ready to raise taxes on firms that unduly capitalise on the energy crisis.
SPAIN
** Spain's government proposed measures worth 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion) to counter the economic impact of the Middle East conflict on local energy prices.
ARGENTINA
** The government has issued a decree to delay the effects of scheduled increases in taxes on liquid fuels and carbon dioxide.
CAMBODIA
** Cambodia is importing more fuel from suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia to make up for supply shortfalls from Vietnam and China.
MALAYSIA
** Malaysia will raise spending on petrol subsidies to 2 billion ringgit ($510 million) from 700 million ringgit to maintain the fixed price of the fuel.
** The government said it is applying measures to shore up fertiliser supply amid a domestic supply crunch.
** The government has announced steps including central bank support for companies, efforts to diversify energy sources and secure inputs, enhanced monitoring of vulnerable sectors, and a special access pathway for critical medicines and medical devices.
THAILAND
** Thailand has discussed with Russia the possibility of purchasing crude oil, a deputy prime minister said.
** The minister said the government would try to cap domestic diesel prices at 33 baht ($1.02) per litre.
** The Thai Planning Agency said the government will freeze prices of some goods and provide support for farmers.
GREECE
** Greece will offer subsidies for fuel and fertilisers and ferry ticket discounts worth a total 300 million euros ($346 million) in April and May to shield consumers and farmers, the prime minister said.
** Athens has announced 500 million euros ($588 million) in extra aid to households and farmers struggling with the impact of the Iran war after a higher primary budget surplus for 2025 offered headroom for fresh support.
ROMANIA
** The government said it will reduce excise tax on diesel by 0.30 lei ($0.0679) per litre.
SLOVENIA
** Slovenia temporarily limited fuel purchases to tackle shortages at the pump caused in part by cross-border fuelling and stockpiling.
PHILIPPINES
** The energy market regulator said it had suspended the wholesale electricity spot market across its three grids until further notice due to fuel supply risks and price volatility.
** It plans to curb power bills by boosting coal-fired power generation and regulating electricity tariffs.
** The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers so it can obtain oil from U.S.-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies.
** The energy ministry said it was activating a 20 billion peso ($333 million) emergency fund to strengthen fuel security amid oil price volatility.
VIETNAM
** Vietnam will switch fully to ethanol-blended gasoline earlier than planned to help curb fossil fuel use, a government document showed.
SINGAPORE
** Singapore will deliver a support package worth almost S$1 billion ($780 million), including cash handouts and fuel vouchers, to offset the economic impact of the conflict.
INDONESIA
** Indonesia announced a slew of measures intended to counter soaring energy prices, including limiting fuel sales and implementing a "work from home" policy for civil servants.
** President Prabowo Subianto wants to increase the country’s coal production, and the government is considering a windfall tax on exports.
** Indonesia will start implementing the B50 biodiesel programme on July 1. B50 - a blend of 50% palm oil-based biodiesel and 50% conventional diesel - is part of a government programme to mitigate Iran war risks.
BRAZIL
** Brazil will present new measures in the coming days to mitigate the economic impact of the war. In March, the government scrapped federal taxes on diesel and imposed a 12% tax on oil exports.
EGYPT
** Egypt will slow down large state projects that involve high fuel and diesel consumption for at least two months, while fuel allocations for all government vehicles will be cut by 30%.
** Egypt has capped the price of unsubsidised bread sold in private bakeries.
ETHIOPIA
** Ethiopia has increased fuel subsidies.
MAURITIUS
** Mauritius said it would introduce energy-saving measures. Restrictions announced include curbs on grid power for non-essential uses such as decorative lighting, swimming pool heating and fountains, the government said.
NAMIBIA
** Namibia's government will temporarily reduce fuel levies by 50% for at least three months until the end of June in a bid to protect consumers from higher pump prices.
NIGERIA
** Nigeria's Dangote refinery, the largest in Africa, has increased exports of gasoline and the widely used chemical urea to African countries hit by supply disruptions caused by the war.
SRI LANKA
** Sri Lanka will introduce additional fuel-rationing measures to shorten queues and secure extra oil supplies, a senior official said.
POLAND
** Poland will keep measures capping fuel prices in place for as long as needed and will start phasing them out gradually only when wholesale prices start falling steadily.
(Reporting by Katha Kalia, Ashitha Shivaprasad, and Anjana Anil in Bengaluru. Editing by Mark Potter and Hugh Lawson)
