Uzbekistan’s Critical Raw Materials and Rare Earths Strategy: Building New Value Chains with the EU

The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Benelux countries, Mission to the EU and NATO, and the Brussels Energy Club (BREC) are pleased to announce a jointly organised high-level business roundtable on:

Uzbekistan’s critical raw materials and rare earths strategy – building new value chains and deepening cooperation with the EU

Co-organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Benelux countries, Mission to the EU and NATO, and Brussels Energy Club (BREC)

The meeting will take place in person on Thursday 26 November 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00, followed by a networking luncheon reception, at the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), Rue de la Loi 26, 10th Floor, 1040 Brussels.

Welcoming address:

H.E. Mr Gayrat Fazilov

Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Benelux countries, Head of the Mission to the EU and NATO

Expected key interventions (participation subject to confirmation):

Mr Avazbek Daminov

Head of the Department of Geological Development, Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Mr Amir Abidov

Deputy Chairman of the Management Board for New Technology Development, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex (UzTMK)

European Commission representative (to be confirmed)

Relevant Directorate-General (DG GROW / DG INTPA – TBC)

Moderator:

Dr Marat Terterov

Principal Representative, Brussels Energy Club

Background

Security of European gas supply, a core theme embedded in the Brussels Energy Club’s DNA since its foundation in 2012, stood at the centre of the debate. In line with the Club’s long-standing tradition of facilitating frank and open exchanges, the roundtable provided a platform for high-level experts and practitioners to assess current developments and future prospects in European and international gas markets.

Uzbekistan is emerging as an important potential partner for global critical raw materials (CRM) value chains. The country has significant deposits of copper, molybdenum, tungsten and gold, alongside growing prospects in lithium, graphite and rare earth elements. In April 2024, the EU and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a strategic partnership on critical raw materials, covering sustainable value chains, investment and infrastructure financing, responsible sourcing, research and innovation, and skills. In 2025, Uzbekistan became the first Central Asian member of the International Tungsten Industry Association.

Tashkent’s ambitions extend well beyond extraction. Uzbekistan’s strategy is to move from a “mine and export” model towards integrated value chains – from exploration and mining to processing, refining and the production of higher value-added materials. The state-owned Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex (UzTMK) is consolidating the country’s technological metals assets into a portfolio of more than 75 projects across over 25 commodities, including tungsten, molybdenum, lithium, rare earths, graphite, cobalt and nickel. At the same time, the government is opening the geological sector to foreign investors, deploying digital and AI-driven exploration to unlock deep deposits, and seeking investment models that combine attractive returns, local value creation and high ESG standards.

For the EU, which is implementing its Critical Raw Materials Act and seeking to diversify supply away from highly concentrated sources, Uzbekistan offers an increasingly important partnership. Realising this potential will depend on infrastructure, reliable energy supply, regulatory predictability, technology transfer and new logistics routes linking Central Asia to European markets, including via the Trans-Caspian (Middle) corridor.

The Embassy of Uzbekistan and the Brussels Energy Club invite representatives of European industry, EU institutions, financial organisations and other stakeholders to explore Uzbekistan’s critical raw materials and rare earths strategy. Expected speakers from the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology and UzTMK will present priority investment opportunities, prospects for downstream processing and export-oriented cooperation. The discussion will address project financing, technology transfer and the next steps in EU–Uzbekistan cooperation. The organisers also aim to facilitate targeted business-to-business contacts between the Uzbek delegation and prospective European investors, industrial partners and off-takers.

We look forward to welcoming you on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 10:00 for a high-level, business-focused discussion. A networking luncheon reception will follow the structured roundtable, offering further opportunities for direct exchanges.

Speaker information

Speaker profiles and photographs will be added once participation has been confirmed.

Further information and participation

Advance registration is required for participation in this meeting.

Participation is free of charge for members and invited guests of the Brussels Energy Club and the Embassy of Uzbekistan. Places are limited.

For registration and further information, please contact info@brusselsenergyclub.org. For Embassy-related enquiries: economy@uzbekistan.be.

Any photography, video recording, public attribution or publication of participants’ remarks will be subject to prior coordination between the co-organisers and, where applicable, the consent of the speakers concerned.