Middle East conflict: the way forward to secure Asia’s energy future

As tensions escalate across the Middle East and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz grinds to a halt, in our daily episode of the Energy Connects podcast, host Chiranjib Sengupta speaks with Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director Emeritus of the International Energy Agency, and member of the Energy Connects Advisory Board, about what the situation means for Asia’s energy security. Tanaka reflects on the lessons from past oil shocks, including from his tenure at Japan’s METI in 1973 to the IEA in 2011, and highlights the prospect of potential supply disruptions and inflationary pressure. He discusses how countries such as Japan – under the leadership of Prime Minister Takaichi, may respond. The conversation also explores the growing role of nuclear energy, emerging technologies and international collaboration in strengthening long-term energy resilience.