Indonesia and Vietnam secured [funding earmarked for decarbonization] from the Just Energy Transition Partnership. Leaders spoke of achieving net-zero goals by 2050 and phasing out coal by 2040 or earlier.<\/p>\n Natural gas was regarded as the transition fuel, a necessary evil to get to \u201crenewable\u201d nirvana when wind and solar would be \u201cscaled up.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the confident rhetoric met reality.<\/strong><\/p>\n A sudden oil and natural gas crunch, triggered by the expanding conflict in the Middle East, has laid bare the fatal flaws of net zero<\/a>. Gas markets tightened almost overnight. Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz got risky. LNG (liquefied natural gas) prices surged. Supply chains stumbled.<\/p>\n Now, ASEAN governments are quietly tearing up climate pledges and returning to oil, coal, and natural gas \u2013 the only affordable energy sources that guarantee uninterrupted power for their growing economies.<\/p>\n Fossil fuels are back in style.<\/strong><\/p>\n Since mid-April, reports have described a clear pattern across Asia: LNG disruption, higher spot prices, and a scramble for dispatchable power, which coal can still provide more cheaply and immediately<\/a> than many alternatives.<\/p>\n ASEAN does not run on slogans; factories, ports, malls, and homes don\u2019t operate on wishful thinking. When gas prices spike and supplies tighten, utilities turn to coal<\/a> because it is available and familiar.<\/p>\n Take Indonesia. On May 2, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia made it plain:<\/p>\n \u201cI decided, let coal continue for now. This is about survival mode and efficiency. We must not sacrifice our people with high electricity prices.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Indonesia has approved higher quotas for coal production and delayed earlier phase-out schedules<\/a> for coal plants like Cirebon-1. Plans to eliminate coal use sit on a shelf. Affordable power for 280 million people comes first.<\/p>\n In Vietnam, coal-fired generation<\/a> jumped 44% month-over-month in March, reaching 16 terawatt-hours. That accounted for 56% of the country\u2019s total power output\u2014the highest share. Utilities negotiated additional coal imports to fill gaps left by expensive and scarce liquefied natural gas.<\/p>\n Thailand took direct action. Authorities restarted two decommissioned units<\/a> at the Mae Moh coal-fired power plant and ordered existing coal-fired stations to operate at maximum capacity.<\/p>\n The Philippines declared a national energy emergency in late March after gasoline prices more than doubled. Coal already supplies about 60% of electricity.<\/p>\n The government ramped up output from coal plants<\/a> and considered easing restrictions on new capacity. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla signaled that temporary reliance on coal would prevent shortages.<\/p>\n In Myanmar, long queues at petrol stations [compete with] black-market prices, which are more than double official rates, and have slowed rice harvesting and hiked food prices.<\/p>\n While the immediate crisis hits diesel and gasoline, power utilities lean harder on domestic coal reserves<\/a> to avoid broader blackouts. Malaysia and others eye similar steps to protect industrial output and rural economies.<\/strong><\/p>\n The speed at which ASEAN\u00a0abandoned<\/a> its net-zero pledges should tell you everything you need to know about the viability of the climate agenda.<\/p>\n The moment a real threat emerged, the green energy transition was exposed as a luxury belief held by those who have never had to worry about where their next kilowatt was coming from.<\/p>\n Developing economies are rejecting the climate dogma<\/a> that demands their perpetual impoverishment. They are actively expanding coal mining<\/a> operations to ensure a steady supply of domestic fuel. This protects their economies from the wild price swings of imported LNG.<\/p>\n The irony is obvious. Governments that spent years promising rapid decarbonization<\/a> are now leaning on coal to keep lights on and electricity prices tolerable. <\/strong><\/p>\n The middle class applauds because the alternative is higher bills, fuel rationing, and lost jobs. For ordinary households, energy security is not a subject for a debate club. It is the difference between affordable electricity and unnecessary, even dangerous interruptions of modern living.<\/p>\n Top: Indonesian coal barge on the Musi River. Photo by Tri Efendi via Pexels<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Read more at CO2 Coalition<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n![\"Indonesia](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatechangedispatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Indonesia-coal-barge.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>
For years, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) governments faced pressure from international lenders and climate forums to announce fossil fuel phase-outs, moratoriums on new plants, and heavy bets on wind and solar. [some emphasis, links added]<\/p>\n<\/a>
The 600 megawatts added helped stabilize electricity costs after gas prices soared.<\/strong><\/p>\n