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South Korea Enforces 5-Day Car Ban for Public Sector Amid Oil Crisis

The South Korean government is strictly enforcing a mandatory five-day vehicle rotation system for the public sector starting Wednesday. The measure, a response to heightened tensions in the Middle East and a Level 2 resource alert, aims to save approximately 3,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The government will also advise private sector participation and could make it mandatory if the oil crisis escalates to Level 3. Additional energy-saving steps include adjusting corporate working hours and resuming nuclear reactor operations.

Key Points: South Korea Enforces Strict 5-Day Vehicle Rotation System

  • Stricter enforcement of license-plate-based driving ban
  • Aims to save 3,000 barrels of crude daily
  • Private sector may face mandatory rules in crisis
  • Part of broader energy-saving measures
3 min read

South Korean govt to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector

South Korea mandates a 5-day vehicle rotation for public sector to save oil amid Middle East tensions. Private sector may face future restrictions.

"The government will beef up monitoring of the public sector's compliance - Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment"

Seoul, March 24

The South Korean government will strictly enforce a mandatory five-day vehicle rotation system for the public sector to respond to possible oil supply disruption amid persisting tensions in the Middle East while implementing additional energy-saving measures, the climate ministry said Tuesday.

Starting Wednesday, the government will beef up monitoring of the public sector's compliance with the license plate-based rationing system, under which cars are divided into five groups based on the last digit of their license plate numbers and each group is prohibited from driving on a designated weekday, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The system has been in place but run loosely. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from such restrictions.

In detail, the ministry will distribute a detailed guideline on the public sector's implementation of the system and push for penalties against public institutions that fail to comply with the rules.

Some 1.5 million vehicles will be subject to the stricter rules, with the measure expected to help the country save about 3,000 barrels of crude oil every day, according to the ministry. South Korea's daily crude oil consumption stands at around 2.8 million barrels, with about half of the volume used for transportation.

The government will advise the private sector to voluntarily participate in the program amid growing uncertainties surrounding crude supplies, and consider making the system mandatory for the private sector as well if a Level 3 national resource crisis alert is issued for oil supply.

The ministry said it decided to adopt such a system as the government raised the alert last week over a possible disruption in the crude oil supply by a notch to Level 2 in South Korea's four-tier national resource security crisis warning system.

It will also ask the top 50 companies in terms of oil consumption to devise energy-saving plans and provide incentives to those who meet energy consumption reduction targets while calling on public institutions and large corporations to temporarily adjust working hours to help even out traffic demand for effective energy consumption.

South Korea last implemented a mandatory vehicle rotation system for the private sector in 1991 to respond to the oil supply crisis sparked by the Gulf War.

Additionally, the government will ease restrictions on coal-fired power generation on days with low fine dust levels and push for swift operation resumptions of five nuclear reactors currently under maintenance as part of efforts to reduce consumption of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is also affected by the Middle East crisis.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Good initiative for energy saving! But enforcing it strictly on the public sector first is the right approach. They should lead by example. Exempting electric vehicles is a smart push for cleaner transport too. We need more such practical policies in our cities to tackle pollution and fuel costs.
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Vikram M
Saving 3000 barrels a day is a drop in the ocean compared to their total consumption. Seems more symbolic than substantial. The real test will be if they extend it to the private sector. In India, such a system in cities like Delhi would face massive compliance issues. Our public transport needs to be much better first.
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Rohit P
The focus on adjusting working hours to even out traffic is a clever idea. Bangalore traffic, please take note! 🚗💨 If companies here staggered timings, it could solve half our jam problems and save so much fuel. We need out-of-the-box thinking like this.
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Sarah B
As someone living in Seoul, it's a necessary step but the public reaction is mixed. It's a good case study for other nations facing similar supply uncertainties. The incentives for companies to reduce consumption are crucial for real impact.
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Kavya N
It's all about being prepared. Global supply chains are so fragile. While the measure itself might be small, it builds a culture of conservation. Hope people see the bigger picture and cooperate. Jai Hind!

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