DeBriefed 2 April 2026: Countries ‘revive’ energy-crisis measures | Record UK renewables | Plug-in solar savings
Why it matters: The Iran war is directly causing oil supply disruptions and prompting the EU to revive energy-crisis measures.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns of worsening oil supply disruptions in April due to the Iran war and is considering another release of strategic oil reserves, while US exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) reached an all-time high in March, with shipments to Asia more than doubling (CNBC, Reuters).
- The International Monetary Foundation (IMF) predicts "all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth worldwide" if the war continues to choke oil, gas, and fertiliser supplies, noting the UK and Italy are "especially exposed by their reliance on gas-fired power" (Guardian).
- The EU is considering reviving energy-crisis measures like grid tariffs and electricity taxes, while France plans new actions to electrify its economy and cut fossil fuel dependence, and other nations are implementing fuel rationing, tax cuts, and free public transport (Reuters, Le Monde, BBC News).
- Italy, Germany, and South Korea are delaying coal-plant shutdowns, with Italy pushing its phaseout to 2038 and Germany reviewing reactivating reserve plants, though a Bloomberg comment piece suggests any shift to burn more coal in 2026 will be "short-lived" (Reuters, Bloomberg, Korea Times).
- New Zealand and Vietnam are casting doubt on new LNG projects due to rising gas prices and a preference for renewable energy, respectively (New Zealand Herald, Reuters).
- 46 countries, including major oil producers, will attend a fossil-fuel phaseout summit in Colombia later this month (Climate Home News).
- India is forecast to experience higher than normal heatwave days through June, raising the risk of power shortages as Middle East conflict worsens energy strains (Bloomberg).
- The Trump administration is offering buyouts to developers to halt remaining US offshore wind projects in exchange for fossil-fuel development (Bloomberg).
As the Iran war intensifies, the IEA warns of worsening oil supply disruptions, prompting considerations for releasing strategic reserves, while the IMF cautions that continued conflict will lead to higher prices and slower global growth, particularly impacting gas-reliant nations like the UK and Italy. In response, the EU is reviving energy-crisis measures, and several countries are delaying coal plant shutdowns, though some analysts believe any increased coal use will be short-lived.
