India, Oct. 8 -- Southeast Asia's electricity demand is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.4 per cent between 2026 and 2030, while coal demand is expected to rise 4.4 per cent a year, the fastest growth of any region globally, as cooling, data centres, industry and wider electrification drive energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The region's growing energy needs are increasing its exposure to disruptions in imported fuel supplies and strategic shipping routes. The vulnerability was underscored by the West Asia energy crisis, which sharply disrupted liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows through the Strait of Hormuz. During the first eight months of 2026, LNG flows through the strait fell by clo...