"If This Continues, Air Conditioners May Stop in July" Alarming Outlook and Solutions Discussed at Future Forum

Instability in ASEAN Oil and Gas Supply Due to Middle East War
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State: "Strengthening Cooperation"

Remarks Delivered at ASEAN Future Forum in Vietnam
"Considering Release of Some Strategic Energy Reserves"

The United States is making efforts to increase sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. This is because these countries are suffering from instability in oil and gas supply as a result of the Middle East war.

According to Yonhap News on June 11, citing major foreign media outlets, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau made remarks at the ASEAN Future Forum held in Hanoi, Vietnam the previous day.

The United States is making efforts to increase the sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. This is because they are suffering from supply instability of oil and gas due to the Middle East conflict.

Deputy Secretary Landau stated, "The current energy crisis has clearly demonstrated the need for every country to diversify its energy resources," adding, "The United States seeks to cooperate so that ASEAN member states can not only navigate the current situation but also strengthen their long-term energy security and resilience." He further noted that the United States hopes to continue to work with ASEAN to help ensure a reliable, affordable, and secure energy supply for the region.

In the field of technology, he encouraged ASEAN countries to work with 'trusted suppliers' to build information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized, "The choices you make today regarding your infrastructure partners will determine your security and prosperity for decades to come," and expressed his commitment to working closely with ASEAN partners, including Vietnam, to ensure a free and open South China Sea.

ASEAN struggles with oil and gas supply insecurity due to the Middle East war. Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database

Meanwhile, according to Vietnam's meteorological authorities last month, northern regions including Hanoi have recently been experiencing extreme heat with daytime highs exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. With the surge in cooling demand, the country's daily electricity consumption has set new records each day since May 23, reaching an all-time high of 1.171 billion kWh. Some areas in Hanoi have also reported intermittent power outages. In response, Hanoi's power authorities have implemented a 24-hour emergency response system to stabilize the power grid.

The situation is expected to worsen after July, when summer is in full swing. Meteorological authorities see a high possibility of El Nino occurring this year. As Vietnam is highly dependent on hydropower, severe drought could pose the additional burden of reduced power generation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.