March 23 – Governments worldwide are trying to shield consumers from soaring energy costs resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.. Factbox-Governments worldwide shield households from rising energy costs. Here’s how different countries are responding:. INDIA. ** India will review its fuel exports if needed to ensure availability in the local markets, a government official said.. ** India is assessing fuel-supply requests from its neighbours and will approve exports only if it has surplus volumes, the foreign ministry said.. ** The country has barred consumers with piped natural gas from retaining, obtaining or refilling domestic liquefied petroleum gas cylinders.. ** It has invoked emergency powers and directed refiners to maximise production of LPG, widely used for cooking. It cut sales to industry to avoid a shortage for 333 million homes with LPG connections.. SOUTH KOREA. ** South Korea is easing limits on coal-fired power generation capacity and raising nuclear power plant utilisation to as high as 80%.. ** It is considering additional energy vouchers to support vulnerable households.. CHINA. ** China has banned refined fuel exports to pre-empt a potential domestic fuel shortage, four sources said.. ** It is also releasing fertiliser supplies from national commercial reserves ahead of spring planting.. AUSTRALIA. ** Australia is releasing petrol/gasoline and diesel from domestic reserves to ease shortages affecting rural supply chains as well as mining and agriculture.. JAN. ** Japan has asked Australia, its biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas, to boost output.. EUROPEAN UNION. ** European Union leaders called for temporary measures to mitigate the impact of a surge in energy prices, with electricity tax cuts, lower grid fees and state support put forward as possible short-term fixes.. BANGLADESH. ** Bangladesh is seeking billions in external financing to secure fuel and liquefied natural gas imports.. SERBIA. ** Serbia will cut excise duties on crude oil by a cumulative 60% to calm the local market.. ** It has also extended a ban on crude oil and fuel product exports to safeguard its market from shortages and price spikes.. ITALY. ** Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said Italy is considering cutting excise duties to soften fuel prices and is ready to raise taxes on firms responsible for unduly capitalising on the energy crisis.. CAMBODIA. ** Cambodia is importing more fuel from suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia to make up for supply shortfalls from Vietnam and China.. MALAYSIA. ** Malaysia will raise spending on petrol subsidies to 2 billion ringgit from 700 million ringgit to maintain the fixed price of the fuel.. THAILAND. ** Thailand has discussed with the Russian government the possibility of purchasing crude oil, a deputy prime minister said.. ** The minister also said the government would try to cap domestic diesel prices at 33 baht per litre.. ** The Thai Planning Agency said the government will freeze prices
