Despite the increasing role of renewable energy sources, hydrocarbons will remain the key source of energy generation for decades to come. The situation is exacerbated by the high energy intensity of China’s economy, one of the world’s industrial leaders, whose indicators have declined by only 4% in more than 50 years. Thus, the mechanism of oil and gas price formation continues to be a relevant research topic. The authors draw attention to the relationship between the dynamics of demand for hydrocarbons and real GDP growth. The article pays special attention to the difference in the formation of prices in the long and short term. A significant role of inflation in the formation of long-term oil prices is noted as part of the research. Short-term price dynamics have shown significant volatility in 2024. The main geopolitical factors in the period under review were the armed conflict in the Red Sea, the Special military operation in Ukraine, the Iran-Israel conflict, as well as the political crisis in Libya. From a macroeconomic point of view, the market reacted most significantly to the state of the US and Chinese economies. Expectations of recession and the slow recovery of China’s business activity remained as the primary concern for the market. As the result, the authors draw conclusions about the role of short term price volatility on the economies of hydrocarbon exporting countries.

The article analyzes the peculiarities of Russia’s customs regulation with regard to foreign trade in energy resources and energy equipment in 2022–2024. The authors show that the most promising markets for Russian energy carriers are developing countries, for which Russia can act not only as a supplier of energy resources, but also participate in the development of energy industries by exporting equipment and creating joint ventures. The article points out that customs regulation from 2022 is situational rather than proactive and is mainly aimed at adapting to changes in external conditions. It is concluded that the key objectives of customs regulation in the energy sector should be to increase the competitiveness of Russian energy equipment exports and the investment attractiveness of projects for deep processing of energy resources, as well as to stimulate the economic development of Russia’s eastern regions, through the territory and water area of which the main routes of energy supplies to China and Pacific Ocean ports pass. The conclusion contains proposals for improving customstariff and non-tariff regulation aimed at solving the above tasks.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the key factors affecting the stability of the Middle East, with potentially serious consequences for global oil markets. The escalation of the conflict after October 7, 2023, including massive missile strikes and the start of the military operation Iron Swords, led to a significant increase in oil prices. OPEC+ countries took measures to reduce oil production in response to the current situation, which helped stabilize the market, although ongoing hostilities and geopolitical tensions create new challenges. Of particular concern is the possibility of further escalation of the conflict and its impact on oil-producing countries in the region, as well as on the global oil and gas market. The article analyzes historical parallels, current policies of the main players and possible scenarios for the development of events, emphasizing the importance of coordinating international efforts to prevent a full-scale energy crisis.

The article examines the causes of the energy crisis in the Moldova-Transnistria region that broke out in early 2025, and provides evidence that it was caused not only and not so much by Kiev’s refusal to transit Russian gas through Ukraine, but also by the position taken by Euro-Atlantic structures and Chisinau. The former intended to completely oust Russian gas from Europe, as well as create the prerequisites for the expulsion of the Russian peacekeeping mission from Transnistria. The Moldovan authorities, in turn, are trying to use the critical situation in the socio-economic sphere of the PMR in order to force it to integrate into the political and economic space of Moldova, thereby finally resolving the Transnistrian issue in their favor. For this, the Moldovan authorities were ready to sacrifice the economic interests of the republic.

Due to the termination of electricity supplies to the Dniester (Moldavian) GRES, which from January 1, 2025 was unable to supply electricity to the Right Bank, Chisinau was forced to switch to importing expensive electricity from Romania. As a result, the Moldovan population received a triple blow at the beginning of 2025: increased tariffs; scanty compensation from the authorities; purchases of energy resources through external loans, which ordinary citizens will have to pay for.

A critical situation has developed in the energy sphere of Transnistria, threatening a humanitarian catastrophe. Nevertheless, despite the agreement of the Transnistrian authorities with the leadership of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on gas supplies via the Trans-Balkan route, Chisinau stipulated this possibility with a number of difficult conditions. The artificial nature of the current situation is evidenced by the fact that on the eve of the energy crisis, there were several quite realistic scenarios for overcoming it, which are discussed in the article. Collectively, Chisinau’s actions regarding Transnistria can be qualified as imposed reintegration.

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of coal consumption and production volumes from 1992 to 2023, with a detailed examination of the dynamics across countries and regions. The author identifies key players in the global coal market as well as the main trends in their development. Special attention is given to analyzing the factors driving transformations in the coal industry, including economic, ideological, geopolitical, and sanitary-epidemiological. The methodological basis of the study includes statistical analysis of coal production and consumption data by country, comparative analysis to assess the development dynamics of different countries and regions, factor analysis to determine the root causes of changes in the global coal market, and content analysis of official reports, statements, doctrinal documents, and other sources reflecting the state and prospects of the coal industry. Based on the obtained data and considering current trends in global economic development, the energy sector, and geopolitical processes, the article provides a forecast for the global coal market until 2035. The authors reason that during this period it is expected to form a stable trend to reduce the volume of coal production and consumption on a global scale. Special attention is paid to the forecast of the Russian coal market development. The presented findings and projections may be useful for researchers, analysts, policymakers, and the business community engaged in issues of energy security, the coal industry, and global economic development.

The article examines the problems of water supply in the Central Asian region, which in the last decade have assumed an existential character and become an instrument of geo-economic influence. The basic factor of economic security in Central Asian countries is the availability of water resources, which form the potential for economic growth and security in the context of a demographic boom. The complexity of the water supply situation for the countries of the region lies in the uneven access to water resources, due to geography and extremely low water consumption culture. The economic development strategies of all Central Asian countries, without exception, do not provide for measures to optimize the use of water resources, which is dictated by a low level of technology and extensive approaches to expanding production by involving natural resources in the economic turnover. The lack of comprehensive planning of economic development without taking into account the geographical, climatic and anthropological features of water use in the region necessitates a comprehensive study of this issue in the economic context.

The article examines the subjective and objective factors that determine the current situation of access to water sources for the countries of the upper and lower reaches of transboundary rivers feeding the region, the problems of water availability and sharing of water resources of transboundary rivers, which are due to the high hydrological dependence between the countries of the region is characterized not only by a large number of participants, but also by the uneven distribution of water resources.

Central Asia remains a region with one of the highest levels of water availability on a global scale. It is proved that inefficient use of water, the lack of modern technologies, the need to constantly increase food and industrial production to provide for a rapidly growing population, as well as the deterioration of irrigation facilities and water-saving systems create an acute shortage of water.

It is also proved that the problem of water scarcity lies more in the organization of use, rather than the sufficiency of water, which creates conflict between the countries of the upper and lower reaches of transboundary rivers.

Taliban* national Islamist religious and political paramilitary movement finally seized political power at the end of August 2021 and returned the former name of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. After that it began to modernize the socio-economic and energy spheres. However, three years later the country’s new leadership continues to face unresolved economic problems due to the freezing of the financial assets of the former government of A. Ghani, the cessation of financial assistance from Western countries and the continuation of strict financial and trade sanctions against the Taliban movement. The country is faced with the consequences of earthquakes and floods as well as unresolved security problems including from the Islamic State of Khorasan. The author notes that with the coming of Taliban to power the number of terrorist attacks has significantly decreased. It creates favorable conditions for the development of economic and energy contacts with neighbors in the region as well as China and Russia. It is worth noting that the intensification of economic contacts is taking place under conditions of forced return of refugees from Pakistan and Iran. Afghanistan is in dire need of direct investment and technology as well as the development of transport and energy infrastructure given the power of Taliban movement.

The author examines the energy situation in the IEA and relations with the regional countries Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan as well as China, Iran and Russia in the energy sector. The researcher notes that some energy projects (for example the implementation of energy and infrastructure projects with Uzbekistan) contribute to the development of socio-economic relations with regional states. While other projects such as the construction of water canal in the north of the Kush-Tepa by the IEA create natural risks for the agriculture of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan located downstream of the Amu Darya. So far, the leadership of Afghanistan has avoided the negotiation process on the water issue and does not allow the resolution of issues from the position of strength of other states. Emphasizing inclusiveness in solving economic and energy issues Taliban is not ready to discuss the development of the political and social process in the IEA. According to the author, the IEA leadership will continue to adhere to Sharia law including the questions of economic and energy development of the country. In the future it may partially allow women to participate in socio-economic life. Mentioned facts will contribute to improving of the Afghan people well-being.

The article examines the impact of the global energy transition strategy on the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the same time, various aspects of the impact of the “green agenda” on the Kazakh energy sector are considered separately. Various decarbonization mechanisms are being launched in the European Union, which could negatively affect Kazakhstan’s exports in the near future. Similar processes are developing in China, which is important for the Kazakh economy. Under these conditions, Kazakhstan, remaining the leading economic state in Central Asia, implements various elements of the “green” program formulated within the framework of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement to the maximum extent in the national model of economic development. The authors assess Kazakhstan’s ability to realize its stated commitments in the area of “green” policy, which means that industrial growth and energy development in the country will have to occur mainly through the use of expensive technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

South America continues to experience major socioeconomic changes that are influencing global trends. They are caused by the need for a global transition to environmental and alternative energy technologies. South America’s mineral resources are important to the region, driving major changes in the region’s labor market. Instability and imbalances in the labor market have an impact on accelerating labor mobility.

The relevance of this study is to try to explain the factors of increased internal migration within South American countries and a decrease in population in metropolitan cities. The purpose of the study is to clarify the role of technological and industrial development on labor mobility in Latin America. The subject is the growing influence of demand for mineral resources on deurbanization and labor mobility.

To determine the impact of the role of industry on labor mobility the authors used the data on personnel movements in 2022–2023 and salary changes from 2022 to 2024. For this purpose, a method of comparative analysis of economic and statistical indicators on labor movements was applied, which allows us to understand how salaries in industry can affect the personnel migration movements. The author came to the conclusion that technological changes have a major impact on migration processes in South America. The need to develop and extract new minerals and increase the scale of extraction of unexplored ones is becoming a factor in wage growth in this sector, which contributes to an increase in the movement of labor.