Seoul, March 25: Amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, South Korea has decided to strictly enforce a vehicle rotation system. The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced this measure to prevent future oil supply issues.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, starting Wednesday, the government will enhance monitoring of the public sector’s license plate-based rationing system. Cars will be divided into five groups based on the last digit of their license plates, with each group prohibited from driving on designated weekdays.
While this system is in place, it has been loosely enforced. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from these restrictions.
The ministry will issue detailed guidelines for public sector implementation and impose fines on entities that fail to comply with the regulations.
Approximately 1.5 million vehicles will be subject to these strict rules, which are expected to help the country save about 3,000 barrels of crude oil daily. South Korea’s daily crude oil consumption is around 2.8 million barrels, with nearly half used for transportation.
Given the rising uncertainties surrounding crude oil supply, the government will encourage the private sector to voluntarily participate in this program. If a Level 3 National Resource Crisis Alert is issued for oil supply, making the system mandatory for the private sector will be considered.
The ministry stated that this decision was made after the government elevated the alert level to 2 in response to potential disruptions in crude oil supply within South Korea’s four-tier National Resource Security Crisis Warning System.
Additionally, the government will urge the top 50 companies in terms of oil consumption to develop energy-saving plans and will incentivize those who meet energy consumption reduction targets.
Furthermore, the government plans to ease restrictions on coal-based power generation and expedite the operation of five nuclear reactors as part of efforts to reduce liquefied natural gas (LNG) consumption.
South Korea last implemented a mandatory vehicle rotation system for the private sector in 1991 to address the oil supply crisis that began during the Gulf War.
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