The government announced the enforcement of a mandatory five-day vehicle restriction system for the public sector in response to potential oil supply disruptions due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. This measure, starting Wednesday, involves dividing cars into five groups based on license plate numbers, with each group restricted from driving on a specific weekday. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from these restrictions, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment will provide detailed guidelines for the public sector’s adherence to this system and will impose penalties on public institutions failing to comply. The government plans to encourage private sector participation in the program voluntarily, considering making it mandatory for them too if a Level 3 national resource crisis alert is issued for oil supply.
Following an increase in the national resource security crisis warning level to Level 2, the government decided to implement this system to address potential crude oil supply disruptions. Top 50 oil-consuming companies will be urged to create energy-saving plans, with incentives for meeting consumption reduction targets. Public institutions and large corporations may adjust working hours temporarily to balance traffic demand for efficient energy consumption.
To reduce liquefied natural gas (LNG) consumption affected by the Middle East crisis, the government will relax coal-fired power generation restrictions on low fine dust days and expedite the resumption of five nuclear reactors under maintenance.
