IEA Report Calls for Bolstered Gas Security Amid Supply Disruptions

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has highlighted the need for governments to bolster gas security in light of recent supply disruptions. The report, which examines how countries can improve gas supply security through a combination of physical reserves, flexible commercial arrangements, and policy mechanisms, comes after two major gas supply crises in the past five years.

The sharp reduction in Russian pipeline gas supplies to Europe following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered record prices and a major reconfiguration of global LNG trade. More recently, disruptions to LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz during the 2026 Middle East conflict once again demonstrated the vulnerability of import-dependent economies to sudden supply shocks.

The report recommends that governments deepen dialogue on gas security, improve transparency around reserves and market conditions, conduct regular emergency exercises, and work together to enhance LNG market flexibility. It also proposes further examination of voluntary international reserve arrangements, drawing on relevant lessons from the IEA's longstanding oil security framework.