The Iran war exposed Southeast Asia’s energy vulnerability. Now its import bill could triple to $245 billion
A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights Southeast Asia's significant energy vulnerability, exacerbated by the Iran war. The region's heavy reliance on oil and gas imports, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, has led to increased energy bills and inflation. While the conflict is spurring a shift towards electric vehicles and renewable energy sources like solar, more substantial policy and investment reforms are necessary to avoid a tripling of the energy import bill to $245 billion by 2035. AI