How does Uzbekistan respond to the growing global demand for critical minerals

The Strategy "Uzbekistan - 2030" outlines exploration activities aimed at increasing hydrocarbon reserves, modernizing and digitalizing the industry on 60 thousand square meters, and attracting foreign investors to them.
A trillion soums are allocated annually to the domestic geological industry. As a result of the implementation of targeted programs, last year the volume of production in the mining industry reached almost $ 11 billion. 
As noted at the meeting to discuss tasks in the field of geology and the mining and metallurgical industry, held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 29 this year, the bulk of this volume falls on the direction of precious and non-ferrous metals, although there is a huge untapped potential for minerals critically important for the industry. In particular, 32 types of such minerals have been discovered in our country. 
There is a dynamic development of technology in the world. There is an increasing demand for rare earth metals in the electric vehicle, electrical engineering, and green energy industries. Therefore, in recent years, prices for molybdenum, tellurium, selenium and graphite have increased significantly on the world market.
The Head of State pointed out the great prospects opening up. The need to expand the development of existing and exploration of new deposits of critically important raw materials was emphasized. Six types of such raw materials are mined in our country. At the same time, it is possible to obtain products with high added value from platinum, indium, vanadium, as well as from minerals containing tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, zinc and manganese. For example, it is possible to organize the production of products that previously did not exist in the republic of powder metallurgy for $ 300 million and in the field of equipment and components for $ 100 million per year.
Critical minerals (elements and compounds of high economic importance and the risk of supply disruptions), which are used in the production of high-tech products, renewable energy sources, and many other important industries, also play a key role in the modern economy and industry. 
Critical minerals needed for the transition to a green economy, - these are cobalt and nickel (rechargeable batteries, heat-resistant alloys), graphite (batteries, fuel cells), lithium (batteries for cars, computers and smartphones), gallium and indium (solar panels), dysprosium (permanent magnets, wind turbines, data storage devices, lasers), lanthanum (rechargeable batteries, devices night vision), neodymium (permanent magnets, wind turbines, medical and industrial lasers), praseodymium (permanent magnets, batteries, aerospace alloys), samarium (permanent magnets, components of nuclear reactors, oncotherapy).
Military technology also depends on critical minerals. Rare earth elements are used in rockets, satellites and other defense systems.
If we consider these resources by country, then China is the largest producer and consumer of many critical minerals, such as rare earth elements. Australia is known for significant reserves of rare earth elements, lithium and other critical minerals. Congo has significant resources for cobalt, which is important for lithium-ion batteries. Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada and Russia are also among the major producers of critical minerals such as nickel, tungsten and platinum.
Since the extraction of many critical minerals is concentrated in a number of countries, there is a significant risk of supply disruptions. As the world transitions to a "green" economy, the demand for these important minerals and compounds increases significantly. For example, Turkey provides 75 percent of the world's boron supplies. China has concentrated 80-90 percent of the supply of rare earth minerals and about 70 percent of lithium products. This encourages countries and companies to diversify their sources and look for alternative materials.
Participants in this market assess the security and dependence of their production of high-tech products on external supplies of the required raw materials. Based on this, the States compile their list of critical minerals and develop an appropriate strategy. 
Although critical minerals play an indispensable role in the modern world, ensuring technological progress and the transition to sustainable energy sources, at the same time their extraction and use are accompanied by significant challenges. To overcome them, international cooperation, investments in scientific research and the development of sustainable mining and processing practices are necessary.
Uzbekistan is also taking steps to explore, extract and process critical minerals and rare earth elements.
In 2023, on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Industrial Exhibition "Innoprom. Central Asia" it was stated that our country intends to start lithium mining. As the leadership of the Ministry of Mining and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan emphasized, we have a large lithium deposit, a feasibility study has been developed for its development, and we are preparing to start mining and processing this metal. It was emphasized that the Ministry considers the development of the industry of technological metals, which are in demand by industry as part of the transition to low-carbon technologies and green energy, to be a promising direction for the republic.
One of the investment proposals of Uzbekistan is the development of the Nurlikon lithium mine in the Akhangaran district of the Tashkent region. According to the average lithium content in ores and reserves (more than 123 thousand tons) Nurlicon is not inferior to similar deposits of the same type in the USA and China. 
Earlier this year, the University of Geological Sciences hosted the Lithium day Uzbekistan 2024 conference. The event was organized by the Ministry of Mining and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the German Institute Deutsches Lithiuminsititut and GP Papenburg AG. The main objectives of the event are to study trends in the development of critically important minerals in the world, technologies for their processing and foreign experience in creating a value chain, as well as establishing cooperation with engineering companies capable of implementing such projects.
The conference was attended by industry experts from Germany, Great Britain, Finland, representatives of foreign consulting companies and other organizations.
A number of bilateral agreements were signed during the recent state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea Yun Seok-yong to Uzbekistan. One of them is concluded between the Ministry of Mining and Geology of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea and concerns cooperation in the field of extraction and processing of critical minerals.
These measures are designed to accelerate the implementation of joint projects in Uzbekistan with advanced technology companies focused on a "green" future.

Azamat Akabirov,
Press Secretary of the Ministry of Mining and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan.