UNODC: A critical raw materials project is launched in Central Asia

The Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with financial support from the European Union and in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, has announced the launch of a three-year project titled “Secure Critical Raw Materials (CRMs): Strengthening CRM Supply Chains in Central Asia.”

According to UNODC, the project covers five countries with significant potential for the extraction of lithium, cobalt, manganese, copper, rare earth elements, and other critical minerals — Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The project aims to introduce international standards for sustainable resource management, enhance the capacities of government institutions and professionals, and strengthen regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

According to the International Energy Agency, global demand for critical raw materials could increase fourfold by 2040, making the region strategically important for developing sustainable supply chains, including for the European Union.

The implementation of the project is expected to contribute to strengthening economic resilience in the region and to the development of global “green” supply chains.