As the global race for critical minerals intensifies, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a significant supplier of the metals that power electric vehicles, semiconductors, and renewable energy systems. The Central Asian nation has identified more than 30 types of critical minerals and is currently executing 76 investment projects worth around €2.4 billion, according to official figures.
The mineral-rich regions of Almalyk, Navoi, and Surkhandarya hold substantial deposits of copper, molybdenum, tungsten, lithium, niobium, tantalum, rhenium, and other rare metals. These resources are increasingly seen as strategic assets in a world where supply chains are diversifying away from traditional sources.
Industrial backbone: Almalyk complex
At the heart of Uzbekistan's mining sector is the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, one of Central Asia's largest industrial enterprises and a major copper producer. The complex integrates mining, processing, and smelting in a single production system, employing more than 35,000 workers.
Feruz Tursunov, head of the production and technical department at the Kalmakyr mining division, highlighted the site's long history: “Construction work at Kalmakyr began in 1954, and by 1959 it was put into operation. Since then, ore extraction has been ongoing, and more than a billion tonnes have been transported for processing.” He added that the division currently produces over 38 million tonnes of ore annually.
The complex yields copper, zinc, gold, silver, and associated metals including molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium.
Yoshlik-1: a long-term bet
One of the most ambitious projects is Yoshlik-1, which entered active development in 2017. The deposit was previously considered difficult to exploit due to large volumes of overburden, but after additional exploration and cooperation with international companies, reserves were significantly revised.
Vyacheslav Aminov, chief geologist of the Yoshlik-1 directorate, explained: “We extract copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and also rare metals such as rhenium, selenium and tellurium. The reserves increased by around 2.5 times compared to earlier estimates. At current projections, the deposit can support production for more than 50 years.”
Engineers have removed more than 248 million cubic metres of overburden and built around 45 kilometres of railway infrastructure to transport ore. Over 400 units of heavy mining equipment are now in operation at the site.
Institutional shift and value-added strategy
In 2024, Uzbekistan established the Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex to coordinate the entire critical minerals chain, from exploration to processing. Deputy Minister Urol Yusupov stressed the strategic intent: “The Technological Metals Complex was established to manage the entire chain, from geological exploration to the production of value-added products. The focus is not only on extraction, but also on developing processing within the country.”
The institution is developing tungsten and molybdenum processing clusters, as well as projects involving lithium, graphite, tantalum, niobium, and magnesium. It is also examining ways to process technogenic waste from previous mining activity.
By 2030, the government plans to expand the range of processed minerals. Yusupov noted that “Uzbekistan is among the top five countries in the world in terms of tungsten reserves.” He also indicated that the list of critical minerals will grow: “Today, we are mainly focused on tungsten, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium and rhenium. But by 2030, the list of critical minerals will expand to around 12 additional elements.”
Pilot lithium extraction tests are underway, and graphite deposit development is set to begin this year. Tantalum, niobium, and magnesium are planned for later stages. “Our strategy is not about exporting raw materials. It is about creating a value-added chain inside the country,” Yusupov added.
Planned industrial clusters include tungsten production in the Samarkand region and molybdenum processing in the Tashkent region.
International cooperation and environmental measures
Uzbekistan is also deepening ties with foreign partners. “We have signed cooperation agreements with the European Union, the United States, Canada, South Korea and China in the field of critical minerals and advanced technologies,” Yusupov said. Joint projects include work with KU Leuven in Belgium on rhenium extraction and with Canada's SGS on lithium technologies.
Since 2025, Uzbekistan has been able to extract rhenium at 99.99 per cent purity and has started exporting refined rhenium. Pilot tests for lithium extraction are also ongoing.
At the Almalyk zinc production facility, environmental controls are integrated into operations. Chief Engineer Saidullo Abdurakhmonov explained: “We produce zinc, cadmium and sulphuric acid. In addition, we manufacture by-products such as zinc sulphate and zinc oxide powder.” He noted that sulphur dioxide emissions are captured and converted into sulphuric acid, preventing their release into the atmosphere.
As Europe and other regions seek to secure supplies of critical minerals for their green and digital transitions, Uzbekistan's expanding capacity could become an increasingly important part of the global supply chain. The country's focus on domestic processing and international partnerships suggests a long-term strategy to move beyond raw material extraction.
