Overview
- The IEA released a regional outlook on June 15–16 that calls the Iran war a "stark wake-up call" and says the Strait of Hormuz disruptions have left Southeast Asia heavily exposed to Middle East oil and LNG supply shocks.
- The report projects the region's energy import bill could rise sharply without policy change, citing a scenario that would take imports from about US$80 billion in 2024 toward roughly US$245 billion by 2035.
- Governments and consumers are already reacting with emergency measures and market shifts, including the Philippines' national energy emergency, a surge in rooftop solar imports, rising EV sales, and Laos' temporary ban on fuel-vehicle imports for 2026.
- The IEA warns short-term pressures will likely push countries back toward coal for immediate supply security even as interest in nuclear power grows, but nuclear projects face multi-year construction and regulatory lead times.
- The agency estimates roughly US$600 billion will be needed over the next decade for power plants and grid expansion and highlights large additional spending for transmission, cross-border links and battery storage to make the clean transition durable.