The key facts
- By the end of 2026, 12 investment projects are planned to be launched at the Uzbek Technological Metals Combine
- 11 more product types will be added to the five already mastered, including nickel, cobalt and graphite
- Production of 16 types of critical raw materials is to reach $2.7 billion within three years
Tasks for critical minerals in 2026
On November 5, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of priority tasks for 2026 and further plans of the Navoiuran enterprise and the Uzbek Technological Metals Combine, the presidential press service reported (based on Spot.uz materials). The meeting noted the rapid growth of the global critical minerals market — averaging 10% per year. In response, large-scale work is planned to utilize the mineral resource base, produce high value-added products and expand exports.
New product types and investments in tungsten
By the end of the year, the Uzbek Technological Metals Combine intends to launch 12 investment projects, expand the range of localized products and increase the output of high-purity selenium and tellurium. Mirziyoyev instructed to accelerate the implementation of promising projects in the field of critical minerals: to the five product types already mastered — tungsten, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium and rhenium — another 11 are to be added: nickel, cobalt, graphite, antimony, tin, manganese, platinum, vanadium, mercury and copper.
Targets up to 2030
Particular attention was given to deep tungsten processing projects: $1.1 billion in investments is planned to be attracted to this area, with production volume to reach $2.2 billion by 2030. Overall, over the next three years the task is set to increase the production of all 16 types of critical raw materials to $2.7 billion. Proposals were also considered for developing rare earth element deposits, expanding the resource base of the Uzbek Technological Metals Combine, implementing scientific achievements and identifying new mineral reserves.
Context
Earlier, in September, Spot.uz wrote that the president proposed creating a Central Asia and South Korea alliance on critical minerals. The plans announced on November 5 show that the focus on this industry is being consolidated at the level of specific enterprises: the product list, investment volumes and production targets for the next three years have been defined.
