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Viet Nam joins the IEA Family
…Viet Nam will participate more closely in the IEA's work on energy security, data and statistics, technology, analysis and policy dialogue. The decision builds on strengthened cooperation in recent years, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2025 establishing a framework for collaboration on energy data and statistics, energy technologies, power sector enhancement, energy efficiency, critical minerals and rare earths, investment and people-centered transitions. Viet Nam is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies and has the second largest energy system and power market in the region. Viet Nam has set out ambitious plans…
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IEA Ministerial Meeting underscores Agency’s central role in tackling global energy challenges
Ministers deliver expanded mandate on critical minerals and build institutional ties with key countries around the world including Brazil, Colombia, India and Viet Nam Global energy leaders met in Paris this week for the International Energy Agency’s Ministerial Meeting, affirming the IEA’s central role in international cooperation to address the major energy challenges and opportunities facing the world.The two-day event was attended by top government officials from a record 54 countries, with some 40 of them at Ministerial level. Top executives from 55 companies, with a combined market capitalisation of $14 trillion, as well as leaders…
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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026
…of energy trends across the eleven countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.As energy security concerns move ever higher on the policy agenda for countries in Southeast Asia and beyond, this year’s report explores the trajectory the region was on prior to the current energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. It also considers the potential implications of the crisis for policy priorities and investment strategies in the region.
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How accelerating electrification could strengthen energy security in Southeast Asia
Commentary Electrification is key to energy security and sustainability across Southeast Asia Energy demand is rising rapidly in Southeast Asia, driven by economic growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and rising incomes. Since 2015, energy demand has risen by around 40%, while electricity demand has grown even faster – twice as fast as overall energy use. Although renewables have increased significantly over the past decade, fossil fuels have continued to dominate, meeting over 70% of energy demand growth across this period, with oil accounting for nearly half of total energy consumption.Rapid energy demand growth and continued dependence on fossil fuels brings greater exposure…
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2026 IEA Ministerial Chair's Summary
…data and analysis. They stressed in particular the importance of the IEA Secretariat for multilateral cooperation and for supporting Member countries as they navigate the interaction between energy security, affordability and sustainability.Ministers welcomed progress by countries seeking closer cooperation with the IEA, including: welcoming Colombia as the IEA’s next Member country; Brazil beginning the IEA accession process; recent developments in India’s membership discussions; and welcoming Vietnam as an Association Country.Over the past two days, Members focused, in particular, on eight key priorities, highlighted below, against the backdrop of horizontal discussions on energy security, affordability and sustainability…
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Energy crisis threatens world’s most vulnerable as cooking fuel shortages grow
The Energy Crisis hits the Homefront: A growing shortage of cooking fuels The Middle East crisis has highlighted the energy security risks for a fundamental need: the ability to cook a meal The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis of unprecedented magnitude. The daily volumes of oil lost to global markets in March 2026 surpassed the peak supply losses of the two major oil shocks of the 1970s combined.Previous energy crises affected economies and societies in profound ways, often forcing households to ration fuel for their cars and heating for their homes. The 2026…
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How global oil supplies have readjusted to help fill the huge gap left by the Strait of Hormuz shock
commentary Stock drawdowns, alternative routes and suppliers, and agile refiners have all contributed during the crisis, avoiding far more severe impacts on demand Global energy markets have been contending with their largest supply disruption in history resulting from the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for oil and gas shipments to reach global markets. The cumulative oil supply losses from producers in the Middle East now exceed 1.3 billion barrels, with flows through the Strait of Hormuz falling from around 20 million barrels per day prior to the conflict to an average of 2.7…
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Sodium-ion battery momentum grows, but challenges remain
batteries commentary sodium batteries Recent technological advances and investment announcements suggest dynamics are shifting for sodium-ion batteries Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a new player in battery markets, offering opportunities to diversify battery chemistries and supply chains at a time of rising global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. Developed in laboratories since the early 1980s, sodium-ion batteries operate on the same fundamental principles as lithium‑ion batteries – which currently dominate the market – yet their path to commercialisation has been markedly slower.While lithium-ion batteries entered commercial use in the 1990s – with the first electric vehicles…
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The next wave of LED lighting: Smarter, circular and more efficient
lighting commentary The first LED revolution reduced energy use worldwide – and a second wave of deployment is now taking shape As the world enters the Age of Electricity, lighting remains one of the most visible – and widespread – parts of our energy use.The IEA estimates that lighting in buildings and outdoor applications accounts for the majority of overall lighting electricity demand. In 2024, around 8% of global electricity demand – or about 2 200 terawatt hours (TWh) – was attributed to lighting in buildings and outdoor applications, excluding industry and agriculture. These figures reflect the latest available data and define the scope…
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Designing an effective strategic stockpiling system for critical minerals
critical minerals 2025 was the year when the risks of highly concentrated critical minerals supply chains materialised at scale The IEA has long warned of the potential security risks associated with the high concentration of critical mineral supply chains. In 2025, these risks became a reality, marking a major turning point for global economic security. The rare earths export controls announced by China in October 2025 posed major national and economic security risks across the world, with potentially severe impacts for a range of strategic sectors including energy, automotive, defence, aerospace, AI and semiconductors. Earlier export controls introduced in April…