MINEX Forum

Tag: resource security

  • First Meeting of the Eurasian Critical Minerals Organisation (ECMO)

    First Meeting of the Eurasian Critical Minerals Organisation (ECMO)

    The panel discussion marked the first public engagement of the Eurasian Critical Minerals Organisation and focused on the growing strategic importance of Eurasia in global critical mineral supply chains. Particular attention was given to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, set against a backdrop of geopolitical change, supply-chain vulnerability and rising global demand for responsibly sourced critical raw materials.

    Speakers highlighted the diversity of investment environments across the region. Mongolia was cited as a leading example of transparency, due to its publicly accessible national geological database, which provides information on licences, ownership, geological data and environmental conditions. This level of openness was seen as a strong advantage for investors. Other countries in the region were described as having extensive geological data inherited from the Soviet period, much of which has yet to be fully digitised or made widely accessible.
    The panel agreed that improving geological data transparency across the region would significantly strengthen investor confidence and support new exploration.

    Kazakhstan was recognised as the most established mining jurisdiction in the region, with a long history of production and a diverse mineral base. Uzbekistan was described as an increasingly important emerging player, combining significant mineral potential with ongoing economic and regulatory reforms aimed at attracting international investment.

    Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were discussed as highly prospective but more constrained environments, where progress on governance, infrastructure and regulatory consistency will be important to unlocking long-term, sustainable investment.

    Mongolia was noted for its openness to mining investment, alongside the need to balance development with environmental and social considerations.

    The discussion also addressed the region’s strategic geography. Positioned between Russia and China, Eurasian countries are increasingly integrated into regional transport and infrastructure corridors, including those associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. While such investment was recognised as important, speakers stressed the shared objective among regional governments of diversifying their international partnerships.

    A broad and balanced investor base was described as being firmly in the national interest, strengthening resilience and reducing over-reliance on any single partner.

    Panellists also highlighted the growing link between critical minerals, industrial strategy and security. Recent geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine, have sharpened European focus on supply-chain resilience and strategic autonomy. Minerals found across Central Asia and Mongolia were described as essential inputs for clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and defence-related applications.

    From a geological perspective, the panel emphasised that large parts of the region remain underexplored, despite extensive historic discoveries. Many critical minerals occur as by-products of major commodities or within historic mine tailings. Advances in extraction and processing technologies, alongside the digitisation of legacy data and the use of modern analytical tools, were identified as key opportunities to unlock this potential.

    The political context was discussed through the lens of expanding C5+1 engagement formats between Central Asia and major global partners, including the EU, the UK, the US and others. These frameworks reflect growing recognition of Central Asia as a coherent region and a constructive partner in global economic and resource security discussions. However, speakers agreed that the priority now is to translate dialogue into practical outcomes and investable projects.

    The role of ECMO

    The panel concluded that ECMO has an important role to play as a practical, delivery-focused platform. Rather than duplicating existing diplomatic initiatives, ECMO aims to support implementation by bringing together governments, state-owned enterprises, investors, technology providers and financial institutions. By promoting transparency, best practice and ESG-aligned development, ECMO can help reduce investment risk, support responsible project development and unlock international capital. In doing so, ECMO seeks to help Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan turn their significant mineral endowments into resilient, diversified and sustainable supply chains .

  • Kazakhstan Emerges as Key Tungsten Supplier Amid Global Shortage

    Kazakhstan Emerges as Key Tungsten Supplier Amid Global Shortage

    A supply deficit in the global tungsten market in 2025, triggered by tighter production controls in China, has pushed the United States and other international investors to seek alternative sources, placing Kazakhstan’s tungsten reserves firmly in the spotlight.

    According to data from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction cited by LS, the country holds a significant and geographically diverse tungsten resource base. In northern Kazakhstan, four deposits are currently in operation, with combined balance reserves of about 77,100 tonnes of tungsten trioxide. Central Kazakhstan represents the core of the country’s resource potential, hosting 14 deposits, including 10 with balance reserves totaling around 1.69 million tonnes. Major sites such as Karaoba, North Katpar, Verkhne-Kairakty, Akshatau, and Batystau have already been transferred to subsoil users.

    Eastern Kazakhstan accounts for a smaller share, with two deposits holding an estimated 4,000 tonnes of off-balance reserves, while southern Kazakhstan contains more than 230,000 tonnes of balance reserves concentrated at the Bogutinskoye and Karagailyaktas deposits, both of which are in industrial operation.

    Growing international interest has also been driven by joint projects involving foreign capital. US-based Cove Capital, together with Tau-Ken Samruk, is preparing to begin development at the North Katpar and Verkhne-Kairakty deposits, which together hold approximately 410,000 tonnes of tungsten resources under the JORC classification.

    China continues to dominate the global tungsten market, accounting for about 80% of world production. However, export restrictions introduced in February 2025 significantly reduced Chinese tungsten exports by 20% year on year, while imports into China surged by more than 58%. These shifts have reshaped trade flows.

    Data from the Shanghai Metals Market show that Kazakhstan became China’s largest supplier of tungsten concentrates in 2025. Shipments from Kazakhstan reached 6,900 tonnes during the year, representing roughly one-third of China’s total imports. A substantial share of these volumes came from the Bogutinskoye deposit, which was brought into operation in mid-2025.

    As supply constraints persist and demand for tungsten grows in strategic industries, Kazakhstan is increasingly viewed as a critical player in the global tungsten market and a potential counterbalance to China’s dominance.

  • German Industry Urged to Tackle Dependence on Imported Raw Materials

    German Industry Urged to Tackle Dependence on Imported Raw Materials

    According to the German industry association BDI, the country’s reliance on raw materials from abroad has reached unprecedented levels and must be addressed as a critical industrial policy priority. BDI head Siegfried Russwurm emphasized this point at a conference on resource security, noting that the dependence poses a dual risk for both decarbonisation and digitalisation. An analysis by the BDI revealed that a potential ban on lithium exports from China could jeopardize up to 115 billion euros in value creation in Germany, with the automotive sector facing losses of around 42 billion euros. Notably, China supplied about half of Germany’s lithium imports in 2024, a significant rise from just 18 percent in 2014, despite controlling only a fifth of the world’s proven lithium resources. Russwurm urged policymakers to proactively mitigate such risks, asserting that the current response time is insufficient. He argued that secure access to raw materials is imperative for national security, especially as autocratic governments leverage resources for political blackmail. Traditional market-based approaches are ineffective in this context, he added. To maintain a competitive edge in global supply chains, Germany and Europe must promptly pursue countermeasures, including domestic mining and processing projects, establishing international partnerships, and enhancing resource recovery rates through recycling. Russwurm highlighted that Germany has untapped potential in mineral resources, such as two significant lithium reserves, and the BDI plans to develop ten mines, 15 processing plants, and 15 recycling facilities by 2030. He reiterated the urgency of making decisive investments, as raw materials like cobalt, copper, and lithium are essential for energy transition technologies including electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines. A secure and sustainable supply of these crucial materials is vital for achieving Germany’s strategic energy and industrial policy goals and for transitioning to a climate-neutral economy.