PM Modi only appealed to save oil, 40 countries of the world have put locks on vehicles and ACs!

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to drive less and save energy, a wave of political rhetoric swept across the country. Some people called it a sign of the coming oil crisis, while others called it an undeclared emergency. However, the truth is that India is still in a very safe situation. If we look beyond our borders, we find that in about 40 countries around the world, not only appeals have been made to save energy, but strict and mandatory orders have been implemented.

Restrictions are being imposed around the world

According to an IEA tracker, in this era of global energy crisis, many countries have taken such drastic measures which cannot even be imagined in India. For example, Pakistan has implemented a four-day work week and made a mandatory rule requiring markets to close by 8:00 pm. Sri Lanka even closed schools and had to distribute petrol through QR-code system under the supervision of the army. Countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand have made it mandatory that the temperature of AC be kept between 24°C to 26°C. Jordan has gone one step further and has completely banned the use of air conditioning in government offices. Apart from this, 18 countries have imposed restrictions on transportation. Some have implemented Odd-Even schemes, while others have reduced the speed limit of vehicles to reduce fuel consumption. Countries like Maldives and Nepal have started giving only half filled gas cylinders to their citizens.

Why is this signal important for India?

India imports 85% of its crude oil needs. Rising tensions in the Middle East, Russia-Ukraine conflict and huge increase in shipping costs have badly affected global supply chains. If the Strait of Hormuz is closed, oil prices could skyrocket and reach $150 per barrel. At present, India is not in a difficult situation like Sri Lanka or Pakistan.

We have adequate foreign exchange reserves as well as strategic oil reserves. However, considering the uncertainties of the future, PM Modi’s appeal is not just a suggestion. Rather, it is an active effort to create a protective shield for the country. Conservation politics is the future. Be it Australia’s ‘Every Little Bit Helps’ or Singapore’s ‘Let’s Save Energy Together’, the whole world is now engaged in the politics of saving oil instead of just buying oil. In India too, the size of political convoys is getting smaller, and digital meetings are being actively promoted.

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