Southeast Asian nations poised for crucial decade

Future development prospects are mixed across the energy-hungry region

Southeast Asia’s energy needs continue to grow rapidly, and the 2020s are set to be a critical decade for the region’s upstream. Energy demand is projected to rise by 3pc a year this decade, and three-quarters of that increase will be met by fossil fuels, the IEA predicts. Upstream activity in the region is dominated by NOCs with varying approaches and priorities. But governments also need to attract foreign investment and expertise to develop significant projects. And like all developing nations, Southeast Asian countries are seeking to balance that need with the desire to maximise returns on their natural resources, as well as their respective carbon pledges. The regional outlooks for oil