Sweden’s Energy Minister, Ebba Busch has issued an early warning of a potential shortage of jet fuel due to the war.
Speaking at a news conference, Busch said, “We are warning well in advance of the risk that there will not be enough aviation fuel.”
She asserted that the warning which came during a press conference with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the Swedish Energy Agency, is based on an assessment by the Energy Agency.
She iterated that the reason is the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “Even if we were to get a sustainable peace agreement in place tomorrow, it could take some time before the supply of oil and gas is restored,” Busch bemoaned. Airlines have already started canceling flights in the wake of the fuel crisis. Even if the war in the Middle East ends relatively soon, analysts see the aftermath as long-lasting.
Busch noted that a corresponding risk of shortages of gasoline and diesel has not been identified, stressing that the early warning only applies to aviation fuel.
She cited Italy as an example, where the aviation fuel shortage has already had consequences. “At a few airports, they have not had access to as much aviation fuel as they need and have therefore had to prioritize certain departures over others,” she said.
In response to people’s concern on what this means for their vacation and any trips they have planned, the government’s recommendation is to stay informed, especially when flying outside Europe, and to be aware that conditions may change.
Ebba Busch emphasized that it may be a good idea to review things like travel protection, insurance, and conditions for the trip. It is not a recommendation to refrain from traveling. However, she made a concession.
“Don’t book trips that require you to arrive home at a very specific time. It’s good to allow some margin for your trips if you end up in a situation like in Italy and have to go home on a different day.”
Ebba Busch
Separately, Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela called for an early general election, mainly citing rising energy costs due to the Middle East conflict, as concerns and fears of a spike in inflation grow in a country reliant on imports as reasons to seek a new mandate. The Maltese Prime Minister called early general election for 30 May, with his Labour party seeking a fourth consecutive term
Speaking in a televised address, Abela said Malta “needs an elected government with a new mandate focused solely on the country’s needs in light of all the challenges that the current context brings.” He promised that energy prices would remain “stable” and said that his government would be a “shield” for the citizens of Malta.
According to data, Malta’s economy ranks amongst the top performers in Europe, with a government debt of 46%, a deficit of 2.2% of GDP and little to no real unemployment figures.
Sweden To Face Aviation Fuel Rationing In Worst-case Scenario
Energy Agency General Director Caroline Asserup said that Sweden could, in a worst-case scenario, face rationing of aviation fuel.
“We are in an early-warning phase when it comes to aviation fuel, and that means we have left the normal situation. This is not an acute shortage situation, but an increased risk of shortage.”
Caroline Asserup, Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency.
According to her, the supply of aviation fuel is considered stable today, but Sweden and Europe may be affected if the conflict continues or escalates. “One could consider voluntary measures in this situation,” Asserup added.
She stressed that in a worst-case scenario, rationing could be considered in the long term. “But that is a long way off and not here and now,” she said, adding that the situation going forward depends largely on how the market acts and adapts, both in terms of production and use.
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