South Korea says considering energy vouchers

outh Korea is considering providing additional energy vouchers to subsidise vulnerable households if rising global fuel prices in the wake of the Middle East crisis push up electricity costs, the government said on Friday. Asia’s fourth-largest economy is also ⁠preparing to boost nuclear and coal-fired power generation in the event that oil prices remain highand liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies are disrupted. “The government will take all necessary measures to minimise the burden on the people, such as stabilising energy supply and demand, price management, and supporting people vulnerable (to rising energy costs),” Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said on Friday. South Korea relies almost totally on imports for its energy, buying about 70% of its oil and 20% of its LNG from the Middle East, according to Korea International Trade Association data. To reduce dependence on LNG, the Climate and Energy Ministry said this week it would accelerate the restart of nuclear reactor