Which SE Asian Countries Can Withstand Fuel Crisis As US-Israel-Iran War Drags On

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Which among 11 Southeast Asian countries are more likely to weather the threat of an energy crunch the best as the Middle East conflict prolongs?Certainly, it would be those that have their own domestic oil production, such as Brunei and Malaysia.

It will also be two other countries that have an impressive proportion of power generation from renewable energy sources: Laos and Myanmar.

The two countries are least dependent on fossil fuel for their energy requirements in Southeast Asia. They are the region's top producers of renewable energy, benefitting from their proximity to the southern Himalayas that feed their rivers in their respective northern areas.

Laos' renewable energy, primarily hydropower, dominates its electricity sector, accounting for roughly 75 to over 80 per cent of total generation. It is known as "Battery of Southeast Asia" as it exports electricity from these resources to its neighboring countries. The landlocked country targets 100 per cent electrification by renewable energy by 2030.

As of 2023, Myanmar's renewable energy-primarily hydropower-constitutes roughly 44 to 54 per cent of its electricity generation. Even while racked with civil strife, Myanmar is aiming for additional 14 to 15 per cent of its total energy mix to come from non-hydro renewables by 2030.

In 2024, renewable energy (including hydropower, solar, and wind) accounted for roughly 44 per cent of Vietnam's total electricity generation, with solar and wind alone contributing 13 per cent. Hydropower remains the largest renewable source at 31 per cent.

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As of 2025, renewable energy contributes roughly 30 to over 40 per cent of Cambodia's total electricity generation, primarily driven by hydropower (approx. 25–44 per cent) and increasing solar capacity (approx. 5–6 per cent).

Renewable energy production is a weak 22 to 30 per cent of the Philippines ' total electricity generation in 2024, with geothermal and hydropower being the largest contributors. It still relies heavily on coal for about 44–60 per cent of its power, aiming to increase the renewable share to 35 per cent by 2030.

As of 2023–2024, renewable energy accounts for a small portion of Malaysia's actual electricity generation, with hydropower being the primary source, followed by solar. While renewable energy represents roughly 20-23 per cent of total installed capacity, its actual share in electricity generation is significantly lower. This is mainly due to the abundance of oil production in East Malaysia that provides fuel for its power plants.

In 2023, renewable energy accounted for approximately 15.98 to 19 per cent of electricity generation in Indonesia, with hydropower (roughly 7-8 per cent of total generation) and bioenergy leading the mix. As consistently the 3rd or 4th biggest coal producer in the world, its power sector remains dominated by coal, which provides over 60 per cent of its electricity. Wind and solar power remain below 1 per cent combined.

Thailand's renewable energy contributes roughly 15 to 19.5 per cent of its electricity generation in 2024, with fossil fuels (largely natural gas) still dominating. The country's renewable mix is primarily driven by hydropower, followed by bioenergy and solar. Thailand has a target to increase this to 51 per cent by 2037.

Because of its small size and lack of resources, renewable energy makes up a small portion of Singapore's electricity generation, estimated at approximately 4 per cent. This is predominantly generated through domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, this share is targeted to rise to 40 per cent (via imports and domestic renewables) by 2035.

Renewable energy generation in Timor-Leste is very low, accounting for approximately 0.20 to 0.37 per cent of total electricity generation as of 2021. The country remains heavily reliant on imported diesel for power, with solar photovoltaics representing the largest share of the small renewable energy sector.

Because of its high oil production, Brunei does not seem to bother with renewable energy generation at the moment, with approximately 0.05 to 0.09 per cent of total electricity generation as of 2022–2023. The country relies on fossil fuels (natural gas and oil) for over 99 per cent of its power, but aims to reach a 10 per cent renewable energy target in its electricity mix by 2035, focusing on solar power.

While Laos and Myanmar's economies do not compare with the giants of East Asia, their renewable energy compares favourably.

Japan's renewable energy is only 22.8 to 22.9 per cent of its total electricity generation.

South Korea generates approximately 9.64 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, way behind the global average of 30 per cent.

China's super-economy is powered by renewables by as much as over 60 per cent.

Renewable energy in Taiwan generated approximately 9.5 to 13.1 per cent of the nation's total electricity as of early 2025, according to varying reports.

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