Tag Archives: Asia Times

ASEAN Economies Facing a Dangerous Combo

A potent combination of factors, including a stronger US dollar, a weaker Chinese economy, and rising oil prices, is creating a dangerous cocktail that threatens to disrupt the stability of Southeast Asian economies. A strong dollar makes servicing dollar-denominated debt more expensive, increasing the burden on countries with substantial external …

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Time for China’s Belt and Road to Go Green

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced at the UN General Assembly that China “will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad.” Chinese banks have already swung into gear. Three days after Xi’s speech, the Bank of China declared it would no longer provide financing for new coal mining and power …

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Covid Lockdowns in India and Japan Slow LNG Momentum

Just as liquefied natural gas (LNG) spot markets in the Asia Pacific were gaining momentum, headwinds from the Covid-19 pandemic are again causing problems for suppliers of the super-cooled fuel. The trouble for markets comes with the dramatic coronavirus surge in India. It has a knock-on effect of curbing power …

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Switch to LNG Threatens Renewable Energy Development in Asia

A concerted effort by the US gas industry to push LNG on to developing Asian nations is jeopardizing renewable-energy investment across the continent. General Electric (GE) has been working to persuade Bangladesh to buy its LNG power technology. And Vietnam’s new draft long-term energy plan’s increased focus on liquefied natural …

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Gulf Oil Producers Brace for Budget Deficits

States in the Persian Gulf region understandably are ramping up spending in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. But their income also is in sharp decline as oil prices test lows. They must thus decide how to cover newfound deficits as oil trades in the US$20-$35-per-barrel range, and natural gas …

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