West Asia Conflict: Energy Infrastructure Will Take Time To Recover - Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 (Bernama) -- The impact of the conflict in West Asia on global energy supplies is expected to persist, despite a two-week ceasefire agreed between Iran and the United States, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

The MADANI Government spokesperson said that, although a temporary peace has been reached, the damage to ecosystems and energy infrastructure in West Asian countries will take a long time to be fully repaired. 

He said the Cabinet and the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) were informed that repairs to critical infrastructure, including storage tanks, gas and crude oil pipelines, and petroleum processing facilities, could take anywhere from several months to several years.

“What is most important for Malaysians to understand is that, even though a temporary peace has been achieved, the effects of the conflict continue to be felt due to the damage to ecosystems and energy infrastructure in the Gulf countries,” he said during the briefing on the global energy crisis and a post-Cabinet press conference here today.

He added that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is also affecting the global supply chain, with around 2,000 vessels reportedly still stranded in the strategic passage, compared with the usual 200 vessels passing through daily before the conflict erupted.

Fahmi said that the movement of fuel tankers takes considerable time due to safety precautions and their large size, which in turn disrupts the smooth delivery of energy supplies to the global market.

He stressed that the government’s current priority is to ensure domestic supply issues are managed effectively to minimise the impact on the public.

“Vessel movements in the strait and in open waters take quite a long time. They are not fast; these are large vessels carrying highly flammable fuel.

“...the most important thing is that we can resolve supply issues, which remains the Prime Minister’s (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) top priority,” he said.

Anwar, in a Facebook post today, welcomed the latest development in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran following a 10-point plan proposed by Iran and positively received by the US.

He said the proposal augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only in the region but also globally.

-- BERNAMA