Asia builds regional oil buffers to sidestep Hormuz chokepoint

Facing Strait of Hormuz disruptions from Iran-related conflict, Asia is accelerating regional oil storage, expanding strategic reserves, and speeding up pipelines and LNG capacity to diversify away from a single chokepoint. Japan leads with the $10 billion POWERR Asia plan to help Southeast Asia stockpile oil, while India, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines bolster reserves; China and Korea expand pipelines and LNG storage, and Gulf producers maintain cross-border stockpiles, signaling a broader shift toward energy self-reliance.