Taking Steps

Just in case things with Iran (the world's fourth largest oil producer) get even stickier, the South Korean government is coming out with a plan to conserve energy that stretches down to usage of air conditioners (via Korea Times; hat tip to Green Car Congress)

Car use, and air conditioning in buildings will be restricted in order to reduce oil consumption, if the United Nations embargos Iran's oil exports as part of sanctions against its nuclear program in May, the government said Monday.

Under the government's three-step plan, citizens will be encouraged to voluntarily reduce energy consumption at the level 1 stage. But if a grave situation occurs in the Middle East, level 2 measures will be enacted and people will be forced to limit air conditioning and leave their vehicles at home once a week to cut oil demand.

At level 3, vehicles will only be allowed to be used every other day, and the government will take control of fuel distribution. Electricity use will be limited by region, the ministry said.

GCC also adds:

In 2004, the country consumed around 2.14 million barrels a day (bbl/d) of oil, down from a high of nearly 2.3 million bbl/d in 1997. Most of South Korea’s oil imports come from the Persian Gulf region, with Saudi Arabia supplying about one-third of the country’s import requirements in 2004.