IEA chief warns Middle East war has triggered a severe global energy crisis

First covered Monday, March 23, 2026Science & ClimateWell-covered

The Facts

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, warned on Monday that the energy crisis linked to the Middle East war is more severe than the combined effect of the two oil shocks of the 1970s.
Birol said the world has lost about 11 million barrels of oil per day, which he compared with about 10 million barrels per day lost across the two 1970s oil crises combined.
Birol said the current crisis is comparable to two oil crises and one gas crisis combined, and he also compared it with the fallout from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Birol said no country would be immune if the crisis continued in its current direction.
Birol said at least 40 energy assets in the Middle East had been severely or very severely damaged across nine countries.
Birol said damage to oil and gas fields, refineries and pipelines would take time to repair and could keep prices elevated even if the war ended soon.
Birol said the crisis was affecting more than oil and gas, including trade in petrochemicals, fertilizers, sulfur and helium.

Context

Why did Birol say the crisis could last even if the war ends?

He said damage to oil and gas fields, refineries and pipelines will take time to repair, and that some disruptions to energy trade and supply chains are already in place NYT,NY Post,CNBC.

What parts of the energy system did Birol say were affected?

Reports say he pointed to damage across oil and gas fields, refineries and pipelines, and also said trade in petrochemicals, fertilizers, sulfur and helium had been disrupted Haber7.com,Guardian,NY Post.

What did Birol say about the global impact?

He warned that the crisis poses a major threat to the global economy and said no country would be immune if it keeps moving in the same direction Klix.ba,ETCFO.com,infobae,EL MUNDO.

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, warned on Monday that the energy crisis linked to the Middle East war is more severe than the combined effect of the two oil shocks of the 1970s.
Birol said the world has lost about 11 million barrels of oil per day, which he compared with about 10 million barrels per day lost across the two 1970s oil crises combined.
Birol said the current crisis is comparable to two oil crises and one gas crisis combined, and he also compared it with the fallout from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Birol said no country would be immune if the crisis continued in its current direction.
Birol said at least 40 energy assets in the Middle East had been severely or very severely damaged across nine countries.
Birol said damage to oil and gas fields, refineries and pipelines would take time to repair and could keep prices elevated even if the war ended soon.
Birol said the crisis was affecting more than oil and gas, including trade in petrochemicals, fertilizers, sulfur and helium.

IEA chief warns Middle East war has triggered a severe global energy crisis

The Facts

Context

Wire services (5)

Independent coverage (50)

Facts first. Then every angle.

IEA chief warns Middle East war has triggered a severe global energy crisis

The Facts

Context

Wire services (5)

Independent coverage (50)

Facts first. Then every angle.