Asian Development Bank technical assistance: Prolonging reliance on fossil gas under the guise of energy transition

This briefing by Trend Asia argues that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to support fossil gas through technical assistance (TA) and ambiguous policy language, despite pledges to align with the Paris Agreement. The document contends that framing gas as a 'transitional fuel' or 'low-carbon' enables the planning of infrastructure that locks countries into long-term fossil dependency and risks creating stranded assets.

• The ADB's 2021 energy policy and subsequent updates contain loopholes that allow continued support for midstream and downstream fossil gas operations. While upstream activities are excluded, mid- and downstream support is permitted if no other low-carbon technology is available at comparable cost, if the project aligns with 2050 carbon neutrality goals, and if it is economically viable considering the social cost of carbon. Furthermore, the November 2024 update to the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) did not include fossil gas in its list of prohibited investment activities.
• Technical assistance (TA) serves as a strategic precursor to full-scale fossil gas projects by funding feasibility studies and advisory services, which can lead to long-term fossil dependency and stranded assets. Between 2022 and 2024, the ADB invested $108.54 million via TA, with $22.03 million in 2022, $50.53 million in 2023, and $35.98 million in 2024. In 2024, 45.9% of TA for energy projects ($16.51m) lacked a specified fuel or energy technology, which the document suggests raises transparency concerns.
• In Pakistan, the ADB has provided at least $3.7 million in TA between 2021 and 2024 to support gas-related planning and infrastructure. Specific examples include the Gas Storage Development Systems TA (December 2021), the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) Pre-Feasibility Study (2022), and Pakistan’s Low-Carbon Energy Outlook and Roadmap (2024). The document asserts these interventions legitimise gas as a core feature of the country's energy system, despite fossil gas already supplying over 24% of Pakistan's total energy according to the Economic Survey 2024.
• The ADB has failed to integrate gender considerations into its fossil gas TA portfolio. Projects in Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan related to fossil gas planning and policy advisory are classified as having 'no gender elements'. The document notes that the TA report for the CAREC Energy Strategy 2030 also lacks embedded gender mainstreaming in its design and execution, despite the strategy's overall emphasis on gender equality.
• In Indonesia, a $3.4 million TA grant approved in 2023 for the state-owned utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) focuses on solar and wind but also supports a corporate just transition framework. The document argues this risks legitimising the switch from coal to gas, as PLN's national strategy includes plans for up to 20 gigawatts of gas-fired capacity by 2040.

APA

Bhuee, R. (2025). Asian Development Bank technical assistance: Prolonging reliance on fossil gas under the guise of energy transition. Trend Asia. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ADB-technical-assistance_briefing_digital_final.pdf

Chicago

Bhuee, Rajneesh. Asian Development Bank technical assistance: Prolonging reliance on fossil gas under the guise of energy transition. Trend Asia, 2025. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ADB-technical-assistance_briefing_digital_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bhuee |first1=Rajneesh |title=Asian Development Bank technical assistance: Prolonging reliance on fossil gas under the guise of energy transition |publisher=Trend Asia |date=May 2025 |url=https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ADB-technical-assistance_briefing_digital_final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bhuee2025asian, author = {Bhuee, Rajneesh}, title = {{Asian Development Bank technical assistance: Prolonging reliance on fossil gas under the guise of energy transition}}, institution = {Trend Asia}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ADB-technical-assistance_briefing_digital_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }