Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, expressed concerns about potential shortages of diesel and kerosene across Europe. Speaking to the “Spiegel” the economist warned that without improvement, these fuels could become scarce in the coming weeks, although not immediately. Birol noted that prior to the conflict involving Iran, much of Europe’s diesel and kerosene supply came from Middle Eastern refineries. He pointed out that many fuel reserves have been depleted in recent weeks, and if global diesel and kerosene production do not quickly recover, the situation could become precarious for certain European nations as early as May. He declined to specify which countries might be affected.
Given the sharp rise in fuel prices and growing concerns about supply shortages, Birol is advocating for the implementation of speed limits. He suggested that Germany should consider imposing a speed limit on autobahns, noting that even reducing the speed by just ten kilometers per hour could decrease national oil consumption by up to six percent. Furthermore, he added that if the government also made public transport free or significantly cheaper, it could encourage some people to switch from personal vehicles to buses and trains.
According to Birol, the global energy crisis, triggered by the conflict with Iran and the practical blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, is far from over. He estimates that at least 80 energy facilities in the Middle East have been damaged during the conflict, including oil fields, gas fields, refineries, LNG terminals, and pipelines. Even under the best-case scenario-if President Trump’s announced ceasefire results in a peace agreement and the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened for safe passage-it will take a considerable amount of time for the oil and gas industry to return to pre-war production levels. He concluded with a stark warning: if the ceasefire fails and Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz again, the energy crisis would instantly revert to a critically severe level.