Uranium Discovery in Nepal and the Global Power Struggle

The Strategic Landscape of Uranium Resources in Nepal Geological Potential, Regulatory Frameworks, and Geopolitical Imperatives March 2025 The emergence of uranium as a verifiable natural resource within the sovereign territory of Nepal marks a profound shift in the nation’s strategic and economic outlook (Department of Mines and Geology [DMG], 2014). For decades, the collective imagination of the Nepali state and its international partners was focused on the vast untapped potential of Himalayan hydropower and the conservation of its unique forest ecosystems. However, recent geological surveys and radiometric assessments have confirmed that the rugged lithology of the Himalayas hides significant deposits of uranium, a material that occupies a dual role as both a precursor for clean energy and a core component of nuclear weaponry (IAEA, 2008). The discovery of medium-grade uranium in regions such as Upper Mustang, alongside high-radiation signatures in the Siwalik foothills of Makwanpur, …