Southeast Asia ramps up gas extraction plans but uncertainty remains

Southeast Asia is facing a potential surge in gas production, with 14 projects potentially reaching final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2025. If approved, these would add over 20 bcm/y of capacity, an 18% increase over current output. However, many projects have a history of delays, and the expansion threatens ecologically sensitive areas like the Coral Triangle and Mekong Delta. The report highlights contradictions between these extraction plans and the net-zero commitments of Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brunei.

• Southeast Asia may see its highest number of final investment decisions (FIDs) for oil and gas extraction this decade, with 14 projects potentially reaching FID in 2025 across Indonesia (5), Vietnam (4), Malaysia (2), Brunei (1), and Myanmar (1).
• The potential approval of these projects would increase the region's gas production capacity by more than 20 billion cubic metres per year (bcm/y), representing an 18% increase over current output.
• Gas extraction activities are encroaching on high-biodiversity areas; approximately 16% of the protected area in the Coral Triangle overlaps with gas blocks, and discoveries in lease blocks are threatening the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
• Malaysia's continued upstream exploration, including the Kasawari project and the Malaysia Bid Round 2025, contradicts its National Energy Policy 2022–2040 goal to reduce gas's share of the energy mix to 39% by 2040 and its 2050 net-zero target.
• Indonesia is aggressively expanding gas production through the Upstream Oil & Gas (IOG) 4.0 Strategic Plan, aiming for 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030, which may conflict with Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) projections that see gas consumption peaking in 2030 and declining by 2050.
• Vietnam's energy transition strategy under Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) relies on major offshore projects like Blue Whale (150 bcm reserves) and Block B (107 bcm reserves) to reduce coal dependence, though the Blue Whale project has faced delays due to ExxonMobil's restructuring.
• Brunei has launched its first licensing round in over a decade in February 2025 and is progressing with the Merpati-Meragi and Kelidang Cluster fields, despite national policies (Wawasan Brunei 2035 and BNCCP) aiming for economic diversification and net-zero emissions by 2050.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2025). Southeast Asia ramps up gas extraction plans but uncertainty remains. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-Asia-gas-extraction-brief-April-2025_3.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. Southeast Asia ramps up gas extraction plans but uncertainty remains. 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-Asia-gas-extraction-brief-April-2025_3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=Southeast Asia ramps up gas extraction plans but uncertainty remains |date=April 2025 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-Asia-gas-extraction-brief-April-2025_3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2025southeast, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{Southeast Asia ramps up gas extraction plans but uncertainty remains}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-Asia-gas-extraction-brief-April-2025_3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }