During this session, participants will explore the main prospects and challenges in developing mineral and raw-material resources in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Industry experts will present the latest geological exploration projects, innovative extraction and processing technologies, and strategies to enhance both environmental sustainability and economic efficiency. Attention will be paid to regional cooperation, financing of infrastructure initiatives, and the creation of local added value chains. The session aims to formulate actionable recommendations for government bodies, investors, and the scientific community, in line with the global shift toward a “green” industrial paradigm.

Central Asia sits at the crossroads of environmental recovery and resource opportunity. The region has faced the lasting effects of unsustainable industrial practices — from the collapse of the Aral Sea to widespread mining-related degradation. Today, however, it also holds the keys to a cleaner future: abundant renewable energy, critical mineral deposits, and growing political will. This session will examine how Central Asia can transition toward globally responsible mining practices by addressing past legacies while embracing low-carbon technologies, ESG standards, introducing best-in-class water and waste management and circular economy models. Speakers will explore practical solutions for remediation, stakeholder engagement, and aligning project development with both investor expectations and community well-being. 

Uranium is a crucial mineral for energy and national security—it fuels the nuclear energy that underpins today’s economy and is key to propelling future growth to meet the surge in energy demand from artificial intelligence and urban developments. Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, hold a strategic position in global uranium mining. The session will examine the strategies and plans the Central Asian countries are proposing for deepening their economic partnership, forging new trade agreements and collaborations that could reshape the energy landscape of Central Asia.  

Explore Uzbekistan’s emerging leadership in critical minerals research, training, and institutional capacity-building. Anchored by the creation of the Higher School of Technological Metals at TMK, it will bring together international academic partners to discuss new models of collaboration that prioritise both scientific innovation and workforce sustainability.