Iran war brings fuel risk to Indonesia ahead of Eid travel surge

Gasoline consumption is expected to increase 12 per cent relative to normal conditions between March 12 and 31. Read more at straitstimes.com.

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has already faced market turmoil, a tumbling currency and civil unrest.

Now Jakarta is grappling with fuel prices that have spiked across the region as a war in the Persian Gulf upends supply – just as more than 100 million Indonesians hit the road.

The end of the holy month of Ramadan heralds one of the largest temporary migrations anywhere, when close to half the population travels home for the Islamic festival of Eid Al-Fitr, which falls at the end of this week.

Cars jam motorways, airlines add flights and families cook large traditional meals on gas stoves, all of which help spike fuel consumption.

Disrupted energy supplies from the Middle East – thanks to a deepening conflict in the Persian Gulf – have already created fuel shortages and pushed up prices.

These have prompted some governments across South-east Asia to impose four-day weeks for public-sector workers, mandate higher air-conditioner temperatures and urge citizens not to take unnecessary trips.