Fuel rations and free buses: How countries are responding to rising oil prices

The war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz - through which around 20% of the world's oil and natural gas flows - has seen fuel costs rise sharply in the past month. With the disruption expected to have a lasting impact on prices, governments around the world have begun introducing measures to limit the impact on consumers and the economy. Here is a rundown of what's been introduced so far. While most of the UK's electricity is generated through natural gas and renewables, petrol prices have reached an 18-month high due to rising global oil prices, according to motoring organisation the RAC. The government has said it is primed to step in if there are signs petrol sellers are profiteering from the crisis - something the Petrol Retailers Association has denied is the case. Meanwhile, low-income households that use heating oil will be eligible to access a £53m package announced by the prime minister in March to help with costs. In two Australian states, public transport will be made free in order to incentivise people not to drive. Travel on Victoria's trains, trams and buses will be free from Tuesday and throughout April, while commuters in Tasmania will not need to pay for buses, coaches and ferries from Monday until the end of June. Tasmania's transport minister also said that paid-for school buses would be made free, saving those who use them A$20 (£10.40) a week. The price of petrol has risen sharply in Australia since the conflict in the Middle East began, with the national average at A$2.38 a litre on 22 March, up from around A$2.09 at the start of the war, according to figures from the Australian Institute of Petroleum. Egypt - which relies heavily on imported oil - has introduced a raft of temporary measures aimed at bringing fuel consumption down and keeping public finances in check. Shops, restaurants and cafes have been told to close at 21:00 each night for the next month, while street lights and roadside advertising is being dimmed. Hotels and tourist attractions are exempt. Non-essential workers have been told to work from home one day a week to lower the number of commutes. The Egyptian government has raised petrol prices and fares on public transport to limit the impact of the conflict on its public finances. It has also slowed down large, energy-intensive state projects and cut government vehicle fuel allowances by nearly a third. The Philippines has declared a national emergency, with its government offering subsidies to transport drivers, reducing ferry services and implementing a four-day work week for civil servants. With 98% of its oil imported from the Gulf, the Asian nation has seen the cost of diesel and petrol more than double. The Filipino government has vowed to stockpile a million more barrels of oil, and has not excluded further measures. "Nothing is off the table," President Ferdinand Marcos said. "We are looking at everything we can do." Sri Lanka, which has only just emerged from a financial crisis, is another Asian nation that relies heavily on Gulf states for fuel imports. To conserve fuel, it has declared Wednesdays a public holiday for government institutions such as schools and universities. It has also introduced fuel rationing, with drivers limited to 15 litres a week and motorcyclists 5 litres. The Thai government has asked people to take their jackets off as part of measures to cut down on the amount of energy consumed by air conditioning units. People in Thailand have been told to keep air conditioning at 26-27C, while all government agencies have been told to work from home. The Asian country is consistently hot and humid, with Bangkok typically reaching 72% humidity in April. Authorities have ordered fuel supply companies to prioritise security institutions, major government projects, key industries and the manufacture of essential goods. The Ethiopian Oil and Energy Authority's measures saw petrol stations prioritising public transport, as well as restrictions to conserve fuel. Authorities in the Tigray region, where there are fears of a return to civil war, have announced a complete suspension of fuel supplies. In Myanmar, private vehicles are currently only allowed to operate on alternate days depending on whether their licence plate is an odd or even number. Electric vehicles are exempt. The government has also implemented a digitally-monitored fuel rationing system, where purchases are scanned, logged and tracked using a QR code on vehicles. Vietnam has strongly encouraged its citizens to stay at home more to conserve fuel. The government also called on people to "ride bicycles, carpool, use public transport, and restrict personal vehicle use when unnecessary". The Asian nation has also temporarily rescinded its environmental protection tax on petrol and diesel, which are also exempt from VAT. Bangladesh was quick to close its universities when the war began, bringing forward holidays to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The country also started rationing fuel sales for most vehicles. The government has brought in more planned blackouts to limit energy consumption as well. Slovenia has become the first EU member state to implement fuel rationing. Under the measures, private motorists in Slovenia will be restricted to a maximum purchase of 50 litres of fuel per day. Businesses and farmers have a more generous allowance of 200 litres. South Sudan has started to ration electricity in its capital, Juba. The main electricity distributor, Jedco, said parts of the city would start experiencing daily power cuts on a rotational basis. The country has some of East Africa's largest oil reserves, but the majority is exported, while it imports the refined product needed for fuel. According to the International Energy Agency, South Sudan generates 96% of its electricity from oil.