(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-24 09:45

SEOUL -- South Korean Defense Ministry has decided to join a nationwide campaign to save up to 11 percent from this year's quota of oil amid the skyrocketing crude oil prices, the Korea Herald reported on Monday.

"Under the record-high oil prices, the Defense Ministry and all military branches recently decided to take emergency measures to cut their oil use. We decided to tighten up regulations on oil consumption, from the current level two to level three as of April 1," the ministry told the Korea Herald.

According to the newspaper, the decision was made at a meeting on Thursday of officials of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in charge of energy conservation and military operations.

The ministry and the headquarters of each military branch have directed subordinate units to pursue energy-saving measures aimed at saving 11 percent of oil from the annual quota.

Under the directive, the Army plans to save 180,000 barrels of oil, worth 27.2 billion won, by minimizing field operations and vehicle mobilizations. Standard temperatures in barracks and other military facilities will also be reduced to 18 degrees centigrade from the current 19 degrees centigrade.

The Navy plans to regulate the maneuvers of old ships and to enforce the speed limits set for energy-saving, with the goal of reducing oil consumption by 120,000 drums out of a total of 1.15 million drums allotted to it. It also plans to limit the mobilization of vessels and vehicles in regular operations and exercises.

The Air Force is set to reduce the flight hours of pilots from the current 160 hours a year to 135 hours a year, in a bid to save up to 254,000 drums of airplane fuel and 23,000 drums of gasoline this year.