Critical minerals production expands as global demand rises
More than 30 critical minerals have been identified across Uzbekistan, with 76 investment projects worth around €2.4 billion underway. New mining and processing facilities are targeting materials used in electric vehicles, semiconductors and renewable energy systems.
Demand for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, semiconductors and renewable energy systems is increasing globally as Uzbekistan expands mining and processing projects across several industrial regions.
According to official figures, more than 30 types of critical minerals have been identified in the country, with 76 investment projects currently underway involving 28 rare elements, valued at around €2.4 billion.
Mineral-rich regions such as Almalyk, Navoi and Surkhandarya contain deposits of copper, molybdenum, tungsten, lithium, niobium, tantalum, rhenium and other rare metals.
Industrial base and production history
A key player in the sector is the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, one of the largest industrial enterprises in Central Asia and a major copper producer. The complex combines mining, processing and smelting operations within a single production system.
“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,” said Feruz Tursunov, Head of the Production and Technical Department of the Kalmakyr Mining Division. He added that production remains at high levels.
“Today, the Kalmakyr mining division produces more than 38 million tonnes of ore annually.”
The complex employs more than 35,000 workers and produces copper, zinc, gold, silver and associated metals such as molybdenum, tungsten and rhenium.
Yoshlik-1 project
Yoshlik-1 is one of the largest mining projects currently under development in the sector. The site, which entered active development in 2017, is part of the Almalyk mining system and is being developed in stages due to its scale and geological complexity.
“Before 2017, the deposit was known under a different name and was considered difficult to develop due to large volumes of overburden. After additional exploration and cooperation with international companies, the reserves were significantly revised,” said Vyacheslav Aminov, Chief Geologist of the Yoshlik-1 Directorate.
He noted that the deposit contains multiple metals.
“We extract copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and also rare metals such as rhenium, selenium and tellurium,” he said. “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.”
According to site engineers, more than 248 million cubic metres of overburden have been removed, and around 45 kilometers of railway infrastructure have been built to transport ore. More than 400 units of heavy mining equipment are currently in operation.
Institutional changes and critical minerals policy
In 2024, Uzbekistan established the Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex, tasked with coordinating critical mineral development from exploration to processing.
“The Technological Metals Complex was established to manage the entire chain, from geological exploration to the production of value-added products,” said Deputy Minister Urol Yusupov. “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.
“Uzbekistan is among the top five countries in the world in terms of tungsten reserves,” Yusupov said, referring to official estimates.
He also noted that the list of critical minerals is expected to expand.
“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 also underway.
“From this year, we are starting the development of graphite deposits,” he said.
Other minerals, including tantalum, niobium and magnesium, are planned for later stages of development.
“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
Uzbekistan is also expanding cooperation with foreign partners in research and technology.
“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, we have been able to extract rhenium at 99.99 per cent purity. As a result, we have started exporting refined rhenium,” he said.
Pilot tests for lithium extraction are also ongoing.
Zinc production and environmental aspects
At the Almalyk zinc production facility, operations include waste gas treatment and by-product recovery.
“We produce zinc, cadmium and sulphuric acid. In addition, we manufacture by-products such as zinc sulphate and zinc oxide powder,” said Saidullo Abdurakhmonov, Chief Engineer of the Zinc Plant.
He explained that sulphur dioxide emissions from production are captured and converted into sulphuric acid.
“The purpose of the sulphuric acid plant is to capture these gases and convert them into useful products instead of releasing them into the atmosphere.”
Annual sulphuric acid production reaches 180,000 tons and is supplied mainly to domestic chemical and fertilizer industries.
