From President Marcos’ Call to Action: Strengthening Oil and Gas Stockpiling Systems in ASEAN

This policy brief assesses ASEAN’s increasing exposure to energy supply disruptions, particularly through critical chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, and underscores the urgent need to strengthen regional resilience. Rising import dependence, combined with limited and uneven oil and gas stockpiling capacity, leaves the region highly vulnerable to immediate supply shocks that market mechanisms alone cannot address.

Building on the policy direction articulated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the brief calls for a shift from analysis to implementation through co-ordinated and scalable stockpiling strategies. It identifies joint stockpiling as the central pillar, complemented by hybrid models and diversified financing mechanisms. Strengthening stockpiling systems is therefore essential not only to ensure supply continuity and stabilise markets, but also to enhance ASEAN’s long-term energy security and economic resilience.