Strait of Hormuz Disrupted, IEA Chief Says Energy Crisis Has Never Been This Severe

Jakarta – The current global oil and gas crisis is said to be more severe than the energy crises of 1973, 1979, and 2002 combined. This situation has been triggered by supply disruptions due to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the main route for world energy distribution.

The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, stated this in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.

“The current oil and gas crisis triggered by the Strait of Hormuz blockade is more serious than the crises of 1973, 1979, and 2002 combined,” he said, as quoted from The Straits Times, Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

He added that the scale of this energy supply disruption has never occurred before. “The world has never experienced an energy supply disruption on this scale,” he said.

As is known, the disruption occurred after Iran almost completely blocked traffic in the Strait of Hormuz in response to attacks from the United States and Israel. This route is usually traversed by around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply.

The situation has triggered a surge in global energy prices and increased concerns about its impact on the world economy. According to Birol, European countries, Japan, and Australia will be affected, but developing countries are the most at risk.

These countries are expected to face rises in oil and gas prices, surges in food prices, and accelerated inflation. To respond to the crisis, IEA member countries have agreed since March to release part of their strategic energy reserves. Some of these reserves have begun to be distributed, and the process is still ongoing.

This step aims to increase supply in the market and suppress energy price increases. However, its impact is still considered dependent on developments in the geopolitical situation in the Middle East region.