Do not politicise a geopolitical crisis – Ydreos

The Strait of Hormuz disruption has exposed weakness in the global energy system and reignited debate over security of supply, but it should not be used to justify an accelerated shift away from fossil fuels, says the secretary general of the IGU

Policymakers should avoid politicising the oil and gas crisis triggered by the US-Iran conflict by using it to justify an accelerated shift away from fossil fuels, Mel Ydreos, secretary general of the International Gas Union (IGU), told Petroleum Economist. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and other fallout across energy markets should not be responded to with “ideologically driven policy but realistic pathways forwards”, that recognise gas will remain essential to global energy systems for decades to come. “Particularly in Europe, they are trying to politicise the current situation by saying, ‘we told you so, we have got to get rid of fossil fuels’,” he explained. “[But] you cannot repla