Energy Crisis Looms as Southeast Asian Neighbours Implement Energy-Saving Measures

Jakarta – The global energy crisis is beginning to produce tangible impacts across Southeast Asia. Several nations have taken emergency measures to anticipate potential fuel shortages following disruptions to global oil shipping routes caused by Middle East conflicts.

The closure of major shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical routes for global oil trade, has prompted governments and business leaders across Southeast Asia to prepare for a deeper energy crisis.

Anticipatory steps are becoming visible across various countries. In the Philippines, the government has decided to implement a four-day working week for certain government offices to conserve energy consumption. Meanwhile, governments in Thailand and Vietnam are encouraging citizens to work from home and limit travel. In Myanmar, the government has even implemented alternating-day driving policies to reduce fuel consumption in the transport sector.

These measures have been taken amid concerns over global oil supply disruptions triggered by conflicts involving the United States and Israel against Iran. Priyanka Kishore, an economist at Asia Decoded based in Singapore, stated that these steps represent an initial effort to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis.

“They are attempting to manage the supply situation even before its effects are fully felt,” Kishore said, as cited by Al Jazeera on Friday, 13 March 2026.

Although several Southeast Asian nations possess fossil fuel resources, the region remains highly dependent on oil and gas imports. The majority of these supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Data from the US Energy Information Administration shows that approximately 84 per cent of crude oil and 83 per cent of liquefied natural gas passing through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024 were shipped to Asia. Countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea absorbed nearly 70 per cent of those oil shipments.

Disruptions to the energy supply chain also highlight the limited strategic reserves in Southeast Asia. Vietnam, for instance, plans to purchase approximately 4 million barrels of crude oil from countries outside the Middle East. However, this quantity is sufficient for only around six days of national energy consumption.

Sam Reynolds, a researcher at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, stated that this situation puts Vietnam at risk of facing fuel shortages if new supplies do not arrive promptly.