mkl_setup.py

import os
os.environ['MKL_DYNAMIC'] = '0'
os.environ['OPENBLAS_NUM_THREADS'] = '1'
os.environ['OMP_NUM_THREADS'] = '1'

import numpy
import ctypes
# linux only
mkl_rt = ctypes.CDLL('libmkl_rt.so')
mkl_get_max_threads = mkl_rt.mkl_get_max_threads

print(mkl_get_max_threads()) # says 1

def mkl_set_num_threads(cores):
  mkl_rt.mkl_set_num_threads(ctypes.byref(ctypes.c_int(cores)))

# https://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/intel-math-kernel-library/topic/559554
def mkl_set_dynamic(v):
  mkl_rt.mkl_set_dynamic(ctypes.byref(ctypes.c_int(v)))

mkl_set_num_threads(4)
mkl_set_dynamic(0)
print(mkl_get_max_threads()) # says 4