AsianOil - Asia Oil & Gas

Thai PM silent on refinery, fuel investigation

On April 7, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declined to comment on several matters, including refinery operations and an ongoing fuel probe. When asked about the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, he responded only with a nod

Fuel crisis deepens Myanmar food security fears

Myanmar’s fragile economy is under growing strain as fuel and fertiliser shortages threaten food production at a critical time.

Korea secures additional 60mn barrels to bypass Hormuz closure

South Korea has arranged for an extra 60mn barrels of oil from alternative global suppliers for May 2026. The procurement replaces Middle Eastern shipments blocked by the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Sri Lanka unveils $320mn relief plan to cushion vulnerable groups from energy shock

Sri Lanka, on April 7, rolled out a record $320mn relief package aimed at supporting farmers, fishermen and low-income households most affected by rising energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict.

South Korea hunts stable oil supply in Oman, Kazakhstan

South Korean presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik departs for Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia as a special envoy to bolster energy supplies.

Thailand weighs emergency law to curb fuel costs

Thailand’s new government is considering invoking emergency powers to rein in high fuel costs if negotiations with oil refiners fail.

Vietnam targets 90-day fuel reserves amid risks

Rising tensions in the Middle East have disrupted global oil flows, pushing Vietnam to reassess how it can secure sufficient fuel reserves despite limited public finances.

Thai Airlines suspends routes amid rising fuel prices

Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and Thai AirAsia have suspended some domestic and international routes, citing rising operating costs linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Can pipelines make a comeback?

The shock to LNG supply is forcing buyers to confront both physical disruption and rising dependence on the US, which could revive interest in long-stalled pipeline projects.

Southeast Asia’s energy squeeze

The war in Iran has delivered a systemic shock to global energy markets, but few regions have felt the strain as acutely, or quite as quickly, as Southeast Asia.

Sri Lanka hikes LPG prices sharply amid global energy surge

Sri Lanka, on April 6, increased liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices by nearly a quarter, citing rising global energy costs linked to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Iran opens Hormuz for friendly nations, including Malaysia with zero-fee transit

The Strait of Hormuz has partially reopened for so-called friendly nations after a month-long blockade, with Malaysia securing a high-priority exemption that allows seven of its vessels, including PETRONAS-chartered tankers, to transit without paying

India's Cairn Oil & Gas ties up 25-MW hybrid renewable supply for Barmer operations

Cairn Oil & Gas has secured 25 megawatts (MW) of captive hybrid renewable energy through a partnership with Serentica Renewables, marking a shift towards cleaner power at its key Rajasthan operations.

Pakistan orders early market closures to curb energy use

Pakistan has rolled out sweeping energy conservation measures, ordering markets and shopping malls to shut by 8 pm in most parts of the country from April 7, as authorities respond to rising global fuel costs.

Reliance begins direct purchases of Venezuelan crude

A unit of India’s Reliance Industries has started loading a 2mn-barrel cargo of Venezuelan heavy crude purchased directly from state-run PDVSA.

Rising fuel prices force Thai airlines to trim routes

Thai carriers are scaling back services as soaring fuel prices, driven by conflict in the Middle East, begin to hit the industry.

Illegal fuel production in Laos exposes vehicle risks

Authorities in Vientiane have shut down an illegal fuel production facility producing substandard petrol with dangerously high sulphur content, following a raid on April 4, 2026.

Bangladesh foils illegal diesel shipment bound for Myanmar

Twelve suspected smugglers have been detained after attempting to transport diesel illegally to Myanmar, authorities in Bangladesh said.

Bangladesh turns to spot market yet again to counter supply fears

Bangladesh has accelerated its efforts to secure confirmed LNG supplies by moving to purchase three additional cargoes for May delivery from the spot market as concerns continue over potential disruptions from the Gulf.

Malaysian PM says direct-line diplomacy secures release of Petronas tankers in Hormuz

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reveals that his personal intervention with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian successfully secured the release of seven Malaysian tankers previously held in the Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan confronts power shortfall as oil and gas shocks expose internal weakness

Pakistan is facing the prospect of a power shortfall approaching 30% as a combination of external oil and LNG supply disruptions and domestic mismanagement places significant strain on the country’s energy system.

Pakistan’s Sindh Province secures fare freeze as fuel costs rise

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has secured a province-wide freeze on public transport fares following negotiations with transport operators, as authorities respond to rising fuel costs driven by the global oil crisis.

IMF presses Pakistan to cap energy subsidies

Pakistan has been asked by the International Monetary Fund to restrict energy sector subsidies to a ceiling of PKR830bn ($2.98bn) in the forthcoming budget, as part of ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts.

Tokyo weighs demand curbs as Iran war strains oil supply

Pakistan initiates digital payouts to transport sector to counter fuel shock

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government has started to distribute relief funds to public transport and freight operators through digital wallets, as it seeks to cushion the impact of sharply rising fuel costs.