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How Rich Are Central Asia's Key Mineral Resources, Competing with Multiple Countries?

Editor's Note: According to a Reuters report on February 18, the United States has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to secure more stable access to the latter's key mineral resources. With the accelerating global energy transition and technological revolution, key minerals have transcended their status as mere industrial raw materials, becoming crucial elements in reshaping the global industrial landscape and geopolitical map. In this field, the tentacles of cooperation and competition among nations extend from the copper-cobalt rich belt of the Katanga Plateau in Africa to polymetallic nodules on the Pacific seabed, and from the "Lithium Triangle" of the Andes Mountains in Latin America to the rare earth deposits in the heart of Central Asia. Starting today, the Global Times will launch a series of reports on "The Game of Key Minerals." In the "Central Asia Chapter," we will tell you about the key mineral resources hidden in the five Central Asian countries, how the United States, the European Union, Japan, and others are positioning themselves in the region, and how this game surrounding key minerals will reshape the international energy landscape.

"Ranking Among the World's Top 20 Strategic Resource Producers"

The Saritag mine is located in a steep valley in western Tajikistan. Miners are working hard to extract antimony ore in the crisscrossing tunnels beneath peaks 4,000 meters above sea level. This silvery-grey metal, once known as a cosmetic ingredient, has now become a key resource for strategic industries, used in the manufacture of solar panels and to reinforce the armor of military vehicles.

Tarko Gold's Deputy Director General, Zhumazoda, points to the Saritag antimony mine in Tajikistan. (Visual China) "Tajikistan has many antimony deposits," Zhumazoda told AFP. The company supplies 10% of the world's antimony. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Tajikistan's antimony production in 2023 was approximately 21,000 tons, accounting for a quarter of global production.

Antimony is just one of the abundant mineral resources in Central Asia. From the mountains of Kyrgyzstan to the deserts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the rich key mineral resources of Central Asian countries have attracted the attention of many countries around the world. Even US President Trump stated at the "C5+1" meeting between the US and the five Central Asian countries last November that Central Asia is an "extremely wealthy region." Media outlets generally believe he was referring to the region's key mineral resources.

"Central Asian countries have already joined the ranks of the world's top 20 strategic resource producers," wrote Akerromov, head of the Progressive Reform Center, a think tank in Uzbekistan, in an online article. He added that Central Asia's reserves of many key mineral resources are among the highest in the world—manganese accounts for 38.6% of global reserves, chromium 30.1%, lead 20%, zinc 12.6%, titanium 8.7%, aluminum 5.8%, copper and cobalt 5.3% each, and molybdenum 5.2%.

According to US media reports, experts have stated that large quantities of rare earth elements have been discovered in multiple locations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Zircon, apatite, xenotime, pyrochlore, and niobite are among the richest rare metals and minerals in Central Asia. In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey listed 384 rare earth deposits in the region, including 160 in Kazakhstan, 87 in Uzbekistan, 75 in Kyrgyzstan, 60 in Tajikistan, and two in Turkmenistan.

Kazakhstan is a mining giant in Central Asia, possessing not only the world's largest chromium reserves (estimated at 230 million tons, compared to a global total of 570 million tons), but also being the world's second-largest chromium producer—a crucial mineral for wind power modules. Kazakhstan ranks fifth globally in zinc reserves and also has significant reserves of copper, cadmium, and bauxite. Furthermore, the country is a leading global supplier of uranium, producing approximately 40% of the world's uranium in 2023.

The Hill recently reported that Kazakh geologists announced the discovery of a rare earth metal deposit estimated at over 20 million tons, located approximately 420 kilometers from the capital. If confirmed, this would make Kazakhstan the third-largest rare earth deposit globally, after China and Brazil.

According to a report by the Dutch think tank The Hague Institute, Uzbekistan is rapidly establishing itself as a regional mineral hub, having identified over 30 mineral resources nationwide, including copper, molybdenum, selenium, lithium, and cadmium. The country is the world's fifth-largest uranium supplier and ranks 11th globally in proven copper reserves. An article published on the website of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicates that Uzbekistan will announce new mineral discoveries in 2024, including tungsten, lithium, and germanium, as well as 14 rare earth element deposits.

Tajikistan ranks among the top 20 globally in zinc reserves and possesses significant deposits of aluminum, silver, copper, and lead. Oil and gas remain the dominant sectors of Turkmenistan's economy, but the country also holds a significant position in Central Asia's critical mineral landscape. According to SFA (Oxford), a global critical minerals consultancy, Turkmenistan possesses substantial reserves of sulfur, bromine, and iodine, minerals widely used in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and components for clean energy technologies. Kyrgyzstan is also gaining recognition for its lithium and antimony reserves, crucial for batteries and electronic devices. Significant titanium deposits have also been discovered in the Kyzylkol-Ompol deposit.

Development Obstacles: Electricity, Geological Exploration, Processing Capacity

"Mining remains a vital pillar industry for the two largest economies in Central Asia," an article published on the CSIS website shows. This sector contributes approximately 17% to Kazakhstan's GDP and approximately 8% to Uzbekistan's. This reflects Central Asia's deep-rooted mining tradition and existing mining conditions, which support mining expansion.

However, the development of critical minerals in Central Asia also faces numerous challenges. According to Mayerhanova, a scholar who previously worked at the Belfer Center for Central Asia at Harvard Kennedy School, outdated geological survey data and limited investment have prevented the development of a large amount of mineral resources in the region. For example, much of Kazakhstan's geological data was collected during the Soviet era, and the country's exploration expenditure in 1990 alone was equivalent to its total expenditure between 2003 and 2023. An article published on the CSIS website states that only 40% and 6% of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, respectively, have completed geological exploration.

According to The Diplomat, another structural obstacle to developing key minerals in Central Asia is the lack of local processing capacity. Historically, Central Asian countries have exported raw ores. Processing, rather than mining, remains a major challenge in the key mineral supply chain. While Kazakhstan is capable of refining metals such as copper, zinc, and lead, the region still lacks facilities for processing minerals such as lithium, uranium, nickel, and cobalt.

Umarov, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Russian-Eurasian Center, stated that Central Asia has long been engaged in the extraction and processing of oil and gas, particularly Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, which rely heavily on the export of these fossil fuels for a significant portion of their fiscal revenue. However, the types of key minerals are far more complex. "These (key mineral) resources sometimes require special methods of extraction, processing, and transportation," he pointed out, noting that the entire process from extraction to refining is technologically demanding and requires substantial capital investment.

"Electricity supply restrictions stemming from the legacy of the Soviet Union have severely hampered the extraction and processing of mineral resources in Central Asia." According to an article published on the CSIS website, under the Soviet system, electricity production and distribution in the constituent republics were centrally managed, with little consideration given to modern national borders and national energy needs. After independence, the five Central Asian republics had to struggle to balance power generation, energy imports, and domestic demand. The mining industry demands enormous energy, but Central Asia still relies on aging power plants and outdated transmission lines, limiting its ability to expand mineral production. The region suffers from high transmission and distribution losses, as well as frequent seasonal power outages.

Turkish Anadolu Agency and other media outlets have stated that Central Asia possesses enormous mineral resource potential, but developing these resources requires substantial investment, new technologies, and long-term commitments. By 2030, Central Asia will need at least $20 billion in investment to upgrade national and regional networks and integrate renewable energy to provide reliable power for the mining industry.

“Boosting Economic Growth” vs. “Commodity Dependence”

“For decades, Central Asia has remained largely unnoticed in the global mineral supply chain, overshadowed by traditional mining powerhouses. However, with surging demand for key minerals, this landlocked region has become a strategically important frontier.” According to The Diplomat, Central Asia not only possesses rich, untapped, and diverse mineral resources, but also enjoys a strategically important geographical location and increasingly close political ties with global stakeholders.

Central Asian governments hope to unlock this development potential by attracting private investment and modernizing the mining sector. The Kazakh government prioritizes the development of key mineral resources, which President Tokayev has described as "essentially becoming the new oil."

According to the Kazakhstan News Agency, on August 21, 2025, Prime Minister Bektenov chaired a special meeting to discuss the development of the rare metals and rare earth industries. He emphasized the need to modernize existing production facilities and infrastructure, expand geological exploration, introduce advanced processing technologies, and strengthen scientific research infrastructure. Kazakhstan is currently undertaking large-scale geological exploration: conducting 1:50,000 scale exploration in 25 areas covering a total area of 100,000 square kilometers. In 2024, 38 promising solid mineral deposits were discovered in Kazakhstan. Following the President's directive, by 2026, the national geological and geophysical exploration coverage will reach 2.2 million square kilometers.

In December 2025, Kyrgyz media reported that the Kyrgyz government approved the "Development Plan for Key Minerals until 2030," aiming to strengthen resource security, enhance the industry's investment attractiveness, and build a modern industrial chain. Key development goals include: increasing annual exports of key minerals to $1 billion by 2030, attracting $700 million in foreign direct investment into the sector, and launching at least five new investment projects.

In March 2025, the Uzbek Presidential Press Office stated that the country plans to implement $2.6 billion worth of rare metal mining and processing projects, with 76 projects involving 28 rare minerals to be implemented over the next three years. Tajikistan is also strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries to develop its rich mineral resources.

"The question is whether key mineral resources will promote economic growth or lead to increased dependence," expressed concern regarding the vigorous development of key minerals by Central Asian countries. She cited experts who warned that in emerging economies, the extraction of key minerals could increase dependence on commodities, lead to environmental degradation, and exacerbate socioeconomic inequality. Central Asia risks falling into these predicaments if investment remains solely focused on resource extraction. Realizing the region's development potential requires addressing the structural gaps in the mineral value chain.

Source: Global Times

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