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World Energy Investment 2025 Middle East
…the Middle East, together with the United States, accounted for nearly half of all new natural gas-fired financial investment decisions in 2024. The region also has growing contributions from renewables and nuclear, which have doubled their share since 2015 to reach almost 15% in 2024. Overall clean energy investment for generation is expected to be around USD 10 billion in 2025. The region is also responsible for the majority of global fossil fuel subsidies, which dwarf its total power investment. Mineral development is gaining momentum in the region with higher domestic exploration of lithium, copper and rare earth elements. However, Middle…
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Energy and Water
…water) into freshwater and concentrated salt. Global energy demand for desalination has nearly doubled since 2010, and current trends point to another doubling to 2030. Some 21,000 desalination plants currently operate in about 150 countries, from the United States and China to Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia – though half of global installed capacity is located in the Middle East and North Africa. Renewables can help ease the energy sector's water problem In a scenario in which global energy sector emissions reach net zero by 2050, water withdrawals by the energy sector decline by almost 20 bcm by…
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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2024 Executive summary
…and achieving global net zero emissions by mid-century would demand an even faster transformation in Southeast Asia.At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, energy security and affordability remain top priorities for Southeast Asia. The recent global energy crisis highlighted the region’s vulnerability to fuel price shocks, with fossil fuel consumption subsidies soaring to a record USD 105 billion in 2022 – nearly 60% above the previous peak. Energy security risks continue to loom large as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues and conflicts in the Middle East escalate, with Southeast Asia reliant on the Middle East for 60…
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Global Energy Review 2026 Key findings
…road transport in check. Electric car sales continued their rapid growth, climbing over 20% to more than 20 million units – around one quarter of new car sales in 2025.Gas demand growth slowed markedly in 2025, rising by around 1%, down from the 2.8% recorded in 2024, amid relatively high prices in the first half of the year. Incremental demand was largely concentrated in the United States and European Union, supported by colder winter weather, and in the Middle East, where gas use in the power sector grew quickly. By contrast, Asia Pacific demand grew at its weakest pace...
- Key findings
- Global trends
- Oil
- Natural gas
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Global Energy Review 2026 Natural gas
…increase of around 40 bcm (or 1.4 EJ) in absolute terms. Incremental demand was largely concentrated in the United States and the European Union – where it was supported by colder winter weather – and in the Middle East, where gas use in the power sector grew rapidly offsetting oil use. By contrast, demand in the Asia Pacific region effectively flatlined, with growth at its lowest level since the 2022 energy crisis. The buildings sector emerged as the largest driver of global gas demand growth in 2025, due to cold weather The contribution of the buildings sector to growth in natural…
- Key findings
- Global trends
- Oil
- Natural gas
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IEA launches tracker to monitor policy responses to energy market impacts of Middle East conflict
…government actions taken in response to the energy market impacts of the conflict in the Middle East.The tracker provides an up-to-date overview of measures introduced by governments to conserve energy and protect consumers from rising prices, as governments respond to supply disruptions and increased volatility, notably in markets for crude oil, oil products and liquefied natural gas (LNG).The conflict, which began on 28 February, has significantly impeded energy trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. Global supply of LNG has also been reduced…
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The energy implications of events in the Middle East
…Hemisphere is set to increase the call on LNG in the months ahead.
An extended loss of output from the Ras Laffan facility in Qatar could significantly exacerbate this market tightness. Production was shut down following an Iranian attack on the facility on 2 March.
The IEA is continuously assessing the energy security implications of the current situation in coordination with governments around the world.
For more information, we have a dedicated web page https://www.iea.org/topics/the-middle-east-and-global-energy-markets on the situation in the Middle East and the implications for global energy markets…
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IEA Member countries to carry out largest ever oil stock release amid market disruptions from Middle East conflict
…in the Middle East and consider the options to address supply disruptions. “The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA Member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Oil markets are global so the response to major disruptions needs to be global too. Energy security is the founding mandate of the IEA, and I am pleased that IEA Members are showing strong solidarity in taking decisive action together.”The emergency stocks will be made available to the market over a…
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IEA releases major update to tracker of government responses to energy impacts of Middle East conflict
…provides comprehensive survey of policies to promote energy conservation, support consumers and improve structural resilience – and now allows users to easily search for specific countries The International Energy Agency has published a major update to its Energy Crisis Policy Response Tracker, a new interactive online tool that monitors government actions taken in response to the energy market impacts of the conflict in the Middle East.The conflict, which began on 28 February, has significantly impeded energy trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market and throttling natural gas exports from the…
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Renewables in District Energy Executive summary
…Central Asia. District cooling is less developed than district heating but is expanding beyond the Middle East into multiple regions. With rising cooling demand and urban density, it can improve efficiency, reduce peak electricity demand and support system integration.To date, district heating remains largely fossil fuel-based, with around two-thirds of consumption in energy-importing countries, exposing consumers to price volatility and geopolitical supply risks. While efficiency improvements – including the shift to combined heat and power – have reduced emissions intensity, overall fossil fuel use remains high. Coal accounts for around half of global district heat production, with natural…
