Southeast Asian countries issue energy directives affecting museums amid Iran war

Countries in southeast Asia, heavily reliant on energy imports from the Middle East and expected to face the most severe impacts as the price of oil booms amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, have issued directives to save on energy costs that have potential implications for museum climate control, cultural sites and art transport.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued guidance directing departments to cut electricity use, including setting air-conditioning at or above 77°F, turning lights off when not in use, reducing in-person meetings and shifting activities online.

The directive applies to offices and meeting rooms, without explicitly referencing gallery or storage conditions. It was not immediately clear whether such directives would extend to gallery or storage environments requiring climate control.

Museums typically maintain temperatures between 68–72°F, with some allowing a wider band of 64–75°F.  If applied to galleries or storage, a 77°F setting would be warmer than typical targets but not immediately damaging if humidity is controlled.

Cambodia is also in the midst of a major repatriation campaign. Last month, more than 70 Khmer artifacts were returned from the UK, placing renewed attention on how such materials are stored and preserved.

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“Petroleum is a strategic commodity, yet its supply is finite. As the U.S.-Iran conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets, every liter of fuel saved represents a meaningful contribution to national energy security,” Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a news release Tuesday.

“Citizens, businesses and the media are therefore called upon to join efforts with the government: remain calm, avoid hoarding and use energy efficiently for the shared interests of the country and for a sustainable energy future.”