Asia scrambles to stock up fuel as prices spike in global energy crunch

An electricity crisis is roiling energy markets from Europe to Asia, with fuels that can be used for heating or power in high demand.

Asian buyers are paying top dollar for a variety of fuels that can be fed into steam boilers or power turbines as they seek alternatives to increasingly pricey natural gas.
 

The electricity crisis is roiling energy markets from Europe to Asia, with fuels that can be used for heating or power generation such as propane, diesel and fuel oil in high demand. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts the crunch will drive greater consumption of crude later this year, while China has ordered state-owned firms to secure energy supplies for winter at all costs.

In Asia, prices of propane -- an