Tide is turning for Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia
As their economies grow, the three countries need upstream investment to meet rapidly rising demand
Oil-price volatility, energy-supply deficits and political upheaval are creating headwinds for Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar as they seek to develop and attract investment in their energy sectors. Indonesia and Malaysia—which, with Brunei, share the island of Borneo—occupy a strategic geographical position, ideally placed for budding trade routes between the Pacific and Indian oceans. Myanmar recently held free elections for the first time in a quarter of a century. Southeast Asian oil and gas imports are expected to surge over the next decade as the region's GDP growth continues to rise, yielding a thirst for more energy. Indonesia, the region's largest economy, is also its biggest produc
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy






