Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a major industrial force in Central Asia, leveraging its rich geological endowment and newly modernized mineral sector to join the global critical minerals value chain. With the country ranked third worldwide in gold reserves and eighth in copper, but with only one-third of its territory fully explored, officials say the potential for new discoveries remains vast.
Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has overhauled its geological and industrial policies, launching modern exploration programs and implementing advanced digital tools such as 3D modeling, JORC-compliant reporting and an updated subsoil management system aligned with international standards. A new law on the use of subsoil resources, which came into force in February 2025, is reshaping the regulatory environment to prioritize sustainability, investor protection and the development of high value-added industries.
At the center of this transformation is the Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex (TMK), established in 2024 and tasked with demonstrating the country’s capabilities in critical raw materials and strengthening its role in global markets. TMK operates across the entire value chain — from mining to refined metals to finished industrial products — forming a fully integrated “mine-metal-market” ecosystem that includes exploration, processing, R&D and manufacturing.
The company is currently advancing more than 100 projects across over 25 strategic raw materials, including tungsten, molybdenum, lithium, cobalt and graphite. As Uzbekistan expands its critical minerals ambitions, TMK has become a focal point of international cooperation, with the country signing strategic agreements with the United States, the European Union, Germany, the United Kingdom, Korea and several Central Asian neighbors. TMK itself now works with more than 50 global companies and has joined nine leading international industry associations, positioning it as an emerging player in shaping global standards and accessing cutting-edge technologies.
Innovation and education have become key pillars of TMK’s strategy. The company has forged partnerships with top-tier institutions such as MIT in the United States and KU Leuven in Belgium to promote joint research, industrial PhD programs and technology transfer. In 2025, TMK launched the Higher School of Technological Metals — Uzbekistan’s first specialized educational institution meeting international standards for the critical minerals sector — developed in cooperation with the University of Pisa and the China University of Geosciences.
TMK has also implemented globally recognized compliance and ESG practices, including ISO certifications in anti-corruption, compliance management and environmental management. Its initiatives are showcased at nearly 20 major international forums and exhibitions each year, including the Future Minerals Forum, PDAC and MINEX Europe, as the company seeks to expand engagement with global investors and industry leaders.
As demand for critical minerals accelerates worldwide, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a new strategic center anchored by a modern regulatory framework, substantial geological potential and a diversified value chain. Through TMK’s integrated approach and global cooperation network, the country aims to become a stable and reliable partner in the international critical minerals market.
