Malaysia Warns El Nino Could Increase Electricity Demand

Kuala Lumpur - Extreme weather caused by the El Nino phenomenon could increase electricity demand as hotter temperatures drive up energy consumption, particularly among households using cooling appliances. The phenomenon could also disrupt food supply chains and add to inflationary pressures, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said at a press conference on Monday. “Changes in weather conditions are another aspect we need to monitor closely,” he said. According to him, any disruption to the food supply chain will have an impact on inflation and related issues. “This is a major challenge for the Ministry of Economy because, in the first half of this year, we had to deal with a global supply crisis. As a result, our discussions and narrative regarding long-term plans may be delayed or diverted to handling more urgent crises,” Akmal said. The minister assessed that rice stocks remain sufficient until the end of 2026, whilst prices of some food commodities, including meat and vegetables, have begun to decline even though the prices of essential goods continue to fluctuate. The 2026 El Nino phenomenon, which brings hotter and drier weather conditions and could potentially trigger temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, is expected to occur from October 2026 to January 2027.