The Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and financial support from the European Union, announces the launch of a new three‑year project, “Secure Critical Raw Materials (CRMs): Strengthening CRM Supply Chains in Central Asia.”
The project covers five countries of the region — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — which possess significant potential for the extraction of lithium, cobalt, manganese, copper, rare earth elements and other key minerals essential for the global transition to green energy and advanced technologies.
Global demand for critical raw materials is rising rapidly and, according to the International Energy Agency, may increase fourfold by 2040. This trend positions Central Asia as a strategically important region for securing sustainable and responsible CRM supply chains, including the European Union.
The project aims to strengthen the governance, integrity and sustainability of critical raw material supply chains in Central Asia, thereby supporting the socio-economic development of countries in the region and contributing to the global transition to clean energy. To achieve this, the project focuses on improving the regulatory and institutional frameworks governing the CRM sector, enhancing the integrity of supply chains, and reducing risks associated with illegal activities, corruption, fraud and money laundering. Another important area of work is the promotion of international standards for sustainable resource management, such as UNFC and UNRMS, the development of the capacities of government institutions and sector specialists, and the strengthening of regional cooperation and knowledge exchange among Central Asian countries.
The implementation of the project will contribute to more responsible use of natural resources, increased economic resilience in Central Asia, and stronger global “green” supply chains.
