Energy

As Nepal navigates its complex geopolitical position – sandwiched between giant neighbours and increasingly courted by global powers – the Mustang uranium proposal highlights the tension between development ambitions and the preservation of sovereignty.

With the region still recovering from previous shocks, the latest ADB analysis serves as a timely reminder of the region’s exposure to distant geopolitical events.

With the “Planet” and “Prosperity” pillars now documented in accessible form, attention will soon turn to forthcoming bulletins on the remaining pillars. Together, they promise a comprehensive, data-backed narrative of India’s journey toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The world has faced oil shocks before. This one, Birol made clear, is different – deeper, wider and more dangerous. How governments respond in the coming weeks will determine whether the pain remains temporary or becomes a lasting scar on the global economy.

As South Asia pushes ahead with billions of dollars in LNG infrastructure, the unfolding crisis in the Gulf is a stark reminder that energy security in a volatile world remains deeply intertwined with geopolitics.

The market’s verdict has been swift and unforgiving. Brent crude futures rocketed to $119.50 per barrel – the highest since mid-2022 – while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hit $119.48, capping a blistering 25 per cent surge in days.

The funds, primarily structured as low-interest concessional loans through Germany's development bank KfW, will target key priority areas aligned with India's ambitious climate goals and the broader framework of the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), launched in 2022.

Experts argue that meeting Nepal’s 2045 net-zero target and Sustainable Development Goal 7 – affordable and clean energy for all – will require a fundamental rethink of biogas policy.