Smart work and a 4-day week/ Which countries are preparing to face the energy crisis?
Oil prices are rising above $110 per barrel in the markets, pushing up fuel costs. The specter of austerity is starting to appear in Europe, while in many Asian countries, governments have already imposed strict regulations and mandatory restrictions on energy consumption to avoid a crisis.
In parts of Asia, where dependence on energy imports from the Middle East is extremely high, governments are reviving solutions tested during the pandemic: smart working, closed offices, short workweeks and distance learning.
The most extreme case is Sri Lanka. To reduce fuel consumption and ease pressure on the power grid, the government declared a public sector holiday on Wednesday, with the mandatory closure of government offices. In effect, the workweek for thousands of public employees has been reduced to four days.
The Philippines and Pakistan have also adopted the same policy, albeit with different procedures.
But Asian countries are not the only ones moving in this direction. Following the recommendations of the EU Energy Commissioner, the Danish government is among the first European countries to explicitly encourage the use of smart working.
Mobility is a key factor. According to the International Energy Agency, cars account for approximately 60% of fuel consumed on the road, and commuting accounts for a large part of this total. Estimates suggest that three days of smart working per week could save 2 to 6% of national oil consumption, while for a single worker, this means up to 20% less fuel.
For this reason, the IEA is recommending to governments a series of immediate measures: reducing speed limits on motorways by at least 10 kilometres per hour, boosting public transport, reducing business flights and introducing car-free days, from alternative number plates to car-free Sundays. According to the Agency, restricting business air travel alone could reduce demand for aviation fuel, one of the sectors most exposed to the crisis, by up to 15%.
The fleet of electric vehicles is growing - In the first two months of the year, over 1,700 were registered
The electric vehicle fleet in the country is growing. This is also evidenced by data showing an interest on the part of citizens in environmentally friendly......
9.1% of Portuguese people work almost 50 hours/week - Fourth place in the EU where the average is calculated at 6.5%
Portugal ranks fourth in the European Union for the share of professionals who regularly work 49 hours or more per week in their main job. The figure, which......
Investment for the road traffic electrical network - OSSH, finances 94 million lek for the intelligent system
The Regional Directorate of OSSH Tirana has announced the opening of the tender for the construction of a cable line for the supply of electricity to the......
General decline in the foreign exchange market – Major currencies weaken significantly
The US dollar has started the week in a significant decline, suffering a decrease in value from the previous week, as it was bought today at 82.2 lek and......
Romanian government reduces oil excise duty - "Solidarity tax" on extraordinary profits of companies starts from April 7
The Romanian government has approved an emergency decree to temporarily reduce excise duty on standard crude oil and introduce a "solidarity tax" on windfall......
Oil prices continue to rise - US-Israeli war with Iran is damaging supply
Oil prices were little changed in Monday's trade as investors awaited clarification on the status of talks between the U.S. and Iran, although they remained......
Budget revenues at record level - Rama: Over 1 billion euros more without increasing taxes
Prime Minister Edi Rama has declared that budget revenues have reached a historic level, reflecting, according to him, the strengthening of the Albanian......
National Agriculture Scheme 2026 approved/ Rama: More funds and focus on young farmers
The government has approved the National Agricultural Support Scheme for 2026, which brings a significant increase in financial support and simplification of......
