Iran war pushes countries into energy triage as they conserve power and curb soaring prices

Women wait to collect household cylinders of liquefied natural gas from an authorized dealer in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) 2026-03-17T03:58:18Z BANGKOK (AP) — The escalating war with Iran is pushing parts of the world into energy triage, forcing governments to choose where to cut demand or absorb costs, while prioritizing dwindling supplies. Asia is the most exposed since it relies heavily on imported fuel, much of it shipped through the now-blocked Strait of Hormuz . The narrow passage offshore from Iran is the main route for shipping a fifth of global trade in crude oil and liquified natural gas. Governments in the region are scrambling to adjust — tallying oil reserves, conserving energy, competing for supplies and trying to blunt prices. That brings difficult trade-offs: saving power may slow business activity. Prioritizing cooking gas for households can hurt restaurants and other businesses. Cooks at a restaurant prepare meals over a charcoal stove following a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Cooks at a restaurant prepare meals over a charcoal stove following a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. –> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Motorists wait behind a rope for their turn to get fuel at a pump, fearing a possible fuel shortage due to the Iran war, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu, File) Motorists wait behind a rope for their turn to get fuel at a pump, fearing a possible fuel shortage due to the Iran war, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu, File) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our st

原文链接: AP News