Shadowing Practice: Rising prices, empty tanks: Energy shock dampens Asia's boom | DW News - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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The energy crisis cannot be overlooked in Asia.
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The energy crisis cannot be overlooked in Asia.
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The problems in the Strait of Hormuz are hitting the region particularly hard.
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That's because a large part of their energy imports comes from the Gulf states, but no longer.
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The economic consequences are considerable.
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Supply bottlenecks, long queues at petrol stations, and production stoppages.
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In some countries, even the rice harvest is at stake at stake.
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At the very least, prices are rising.
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If the conflict continues, a region that has previously enjoyed dynamic growth could abruptly slow down.
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In a scenario in which disruptions to energy markets persist into early next year,
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kind of a worst case scenario,
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regional growth would be lower by 1.3 percentage points over the period 2026 to 2027,
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and inflation would be 3.2 percentage points higher.
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India, for example, must import almost 90% of its crude oil,
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and much of this comes from the Gulf states,
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as does around three-quarters of its imported gas.
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Oil and gas are now in short supply.
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Restrictions have been imposed on industrial use,
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a disaster for energy-intensive industries such as glass production.
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When there is a 20 percent drop in the gas supply,
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it forces us to cut production by about 40 percent,
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because our furnace was made to operate at a specific fuel level to function efficiently.
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So we are operating at a 40 percent reduction of our production capacity.
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The Indian government says the energy supply is secure,
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but prices are rising dramatically.
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have had to close due to lack of gas.
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And although India is expanding renewable energies,
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the supply shortage is again making coal more important.
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You can see what is happening in our kitchens in rural India.
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Now, because we don't have energy to that extent,
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it's not reaching the villages,
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they're shifting to corn, which is very bad.
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But what can you do?
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You have to cook your corn.
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So therefore, it is that in immediate future,
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and if these conditions prevail,
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perhaps the use of fossil fuels like coal is going to go up.
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Bangladesh has been one of the country's hit hardest.
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Diesel has also had to be rationed there, even for farmers.
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Farmers really need a lot of fuel this season for their rice paddy irrigation.
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The government has set guidelines that we're sticking to,
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but we know it's not enough for the farmers.
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There's nothing left for this rice farmer today.
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Like everyone else, he needs diesel for his water pumps.
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The young rice plants development depends on irrigation.
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Many fields are already too dry, he says.
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Is there a threat of crop failure and famine?
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In the ASEAN states, almost 40% of oil imports come from the Gulf region,
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as do 62% of gas imports.
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And now?
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When LNG prices go haywire and countries are simply unable to afford or unable to procure available LNG cargos,
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they're going to turn to alternative fuels for short-term responses.
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And in many cases, that's been coal,
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like we're seeing right now.
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So more reliance on coal in the short term,
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but not every country has it.
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And other fossil fuels such as gas and oil now seem less secure.
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Is this a chance for renewables?
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The only good thing, or in the long run,
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it is that somewhere, the renewable energy will become more affordable.
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And the moment it becomes more or even it's able to compete or it becomes cheaper than the conventional,
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then the next step will be what is the capex.
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The midterm will be the subsidies shifting towards that
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and long term will be that everyone will move towards renewable sources of energy.
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In the long term, the crisis could therefore benefit renewables.
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But not everywhere.
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Every country has different needs.
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Japan, for example, imports much of its energy from the Gulf region.
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It has hardly any raw materials,
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but as an industrialised nation,
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it needs a lot of energy.
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Japan is already trying to become less dependent.
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But the expansion of offshore wind power has not worked as planned.
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Investors withdrew.
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More than 10 years after the Fukushima disaster,
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nuclear energy is also set to be expanded again,
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but the reactors are old.
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Despite its support for Ukraine,
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Japan feels compelled to participate in a Russian LNG plant.
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In the current crisis, however,
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the Prime Minister is promising the equivalent of $10 billion in support for the region.
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Thailand has suffered a price shock.
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Its entire energy supply depends almost solely on imports.
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Thailand has only little coal,
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so it mainly uses gas for power production,
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but you need oil for mobility.
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So, and for many industries,
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of course, for logistics, for the agricultural sector,
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which is very huge and important here,
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for fisheries and people working in this area now,
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they feel the pinch immediately.
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The same applies to the Philippines,
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where President Marcos declared an energy emergency back in March.
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The government promises subsidies even to secure the food supply.
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People protested the Iran war in front of the US embassy.
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The Philippines wants to further expand renewable energies.
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But it also wants an exemption from sanctions in the short term to import oil from Russia.
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The price shock is also being cushioned in Indonesia,
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with gas prices already lower.
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But rumours of price increases are making the population and politicians worry.
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These emerging economies like Indonesia are very vulnerable actually to higher prices.
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So many, many politicians fear demonstrations when the prices go up.
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So what Indonesia is currently doing,
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even as the world market prices go up,
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they double down on subsidies just to keep the people calm.
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The cost is estimated at almost $6 billion for 2026.
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How long can this be endured?
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In Indonesia, it's about prices, not energy shortages.
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Its electricity is mainly generated from its huge coal deposits,
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which it also exports.
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Demand had actually fallen.
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Indonesia's biggest coal export destination is China.
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And one of the reasons Indonesia panicked about its coal market and tried to reduce the output this year
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is that China import of coal start to plateau because they're absorbing a lot of renewable capacity.
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Now, during the energy crisis,
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coal is back in demand in Asia in the short term.
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But for how long?
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And how is the crisis affecting the region?
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I really think that the whole of the Asia-Pacific region,
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Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia,
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including China, is at a massive decision moment now with this latest crisis in the Middle East.
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Do they go down the road route of becoming electrotech advanced modern economies relying on solar PV,
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on battery storage, on electric vehicles,
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on other high-end electrical equipment such as heat pumps and so on?
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Or do they stay in the old world and remain dependent on different types of fossil fuels,
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whether that be oil, gas or coal.
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A decisive moment also for South Korea,
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which has been badly affected by the energy crisis.
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It wants to import more coal and gas from Indonesia in the short term.
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The government also says it intends to expand renewable energies.
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Away from politics, the energy crisis is already affecting the packaging industry.
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Plastic packaging cannot be produced without petroleum.
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We're seeing a rise in raw material prices and delays in supply,
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which means we can't manufacture our products.
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But his competitor is profiting.
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Here, the packaging is made mainly of paper.
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At first, we started developing paper packaging in response to growing eco-friendly,
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sustainability and ESG considerations and client demand has increased steadily.
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With ongoing disruptions to the plastic supply,
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we expect further growth in demand for our paper and other alternative materials.
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Is anything changing in the region?
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After all, according to estimates,
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Southeast Asia is responsible for around a third of the world's plastic waste.
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And China?
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It's the world's largest oil importer,
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but it buys from various regions and has built up large reserves.
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Despite the energy crisis, the International Monetary Fund forecasts 4.4% growth for China for 2026.
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The year has started strongly and… We also have sizable policy support that the authorities are providing,
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which again is boosting growth.
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So the impact of the war is being mitigated by these factors.
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China has also been an early adopter of renewable energies
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and is now a global pioneer in the construction of wind and solar power plants.
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Is it a role model for eternal competitor India?
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They are much bigger and in fact their technologies are great in terms of pricing,
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the way they have reduced the cost of solar panels and so on.
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So, I mean, we should follow there might still be something
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but
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if they can do it why can't we do it what
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will the energy crisis mean for southeast asia it's still too early to say definitively
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but it seems certain that energy demand will grow forecasts predict that the region will need 60 percent more energy by 2040.
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Context & Background
The video titled "Rising prices, empty tanks: Energy shock dampens Asia's boom" addresses the severe energy crisis currently impacting various Asian countries. With significant reliance on energy imports from the Gulf states, nations like India and Bangladesh are facing considerable economic repercussions, including rising inflation and supply chain disruptions. The dialogue highlights how these issues affect daily life, from long queues at petrol stations to potential crop failures for farmers reliant on irrigation. Understanding this context provides insight into the pressing challenges these countries face, making it a relevant topic for English learners interested in real-world issues and economic discussions.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Supply bottlenecks: Refers to disruptions in the supply chain causing shortages of essential goods.
- Production stoppages: Indicates a halt in manufacturing processes, crucial to understanding industrial vocabulary.
- Long queues at petrol stations: A common situation depicted in the video reflecting the impact of shortages.
- Rationing of diesel: A significant term for grasping how resources are allocated during crises.
- Energy-intensive industries: Understanding this phrase is vital for discussions about economics and environmental matters.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize this video for shadow speaking practice, follow these steps:
- Choose a section: Start with a 1-2 minute segment of the video. Focus on a part that captures the essence of the dialogue.
- Listen carefully: Play the segment multiple times to familiarize yourself with the pronunciation and intonation of the speaker. Pay attention to key phrases and terms highlighted above.
- Practice shadowspeak: Repeat the phrases immediately after the speaker without pausing. This technique helps you imitate the rhythm and flow of natural speech.
- Record yourself: Make audio recordings of your attempts. Listen back and compare your pronunciation and delivery to the original speaker.
- Seek feedback: If possible, share your recordings with an English teacher or a fluent speaker. Constructive feedback can help you improve your shadow speech skills.
Integrating these steps into your english speaking practice can significantly enhance your fluency and confidence in real-world conversations. By engaging actively with the material and focusing on context, you can better understand and apply these critical terms in your discussions surrounding contemporary issues.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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