Uzbekistan - Critical Raw Materials Market Development

Overview
Project Summary Document

TCRS 12011

Status Approved

Location

Uzbekistan

Business Sector

Natural Resources

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

25 Aug 2023

Project Description

The mining sector is one of the Uzbekistan’s most important and strategic industries, with the country being among the largest producers of gold and uranium in the world. It is also home to sizeable quantities of other minerals, including many of those characterised as critical raw materials in terms of security of supply or input to electrification and digitalisation. Despite significant potential, little private investment is yet present in the sector, with modernisation of the approach to governance and regulation required to stimulate investor interest.

Against this background, the Government of Uzbekistan (the ‘Government’) is keen to modernise regulation and governance rules and approaches, with the objective of harmonising Uzbekistan’s rules and approach with those of best practice, as a means of attracting more and better investment into the exploration for and extraction of critical minerals.

The Bank has already helped the Government to modernise its policy approach and prepare a new subsoil law to implement that new approach. The new Law on Subsoil took effect on 2nd February 2025.
A newly approved third phase of support will continue the Bank’s support, providing help to the Government to implement and operationalise the new subsoil law.

Enquiries

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

TCRS 12011

Status Approved

Location

Uzbekistan

Business Sector

Natural Resources

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

25 Aug 2023

Project Description

The mining sector is one of the Uzbekistan’s most important and strategic industries. The Government of Uzbekistan (the ‘Government’) wishes to see the sector make a more fulsome contribution to the economy and public finances, and has identified it as a priority area of focus for reform efforts. The Government appreciates that the development of a responsible policy framework, and modernisation of the legislative and regulatory basis for the sector, should significantly reduce investor risk and enhance the investment climate, thereby making viable operations by responsible investors more likely. To achieve these objectives, the Government has committed to making significant changes to both the structure and governance of both the sector and its main state-owned participants, including preparing a new policy and drafting new laws. To help achieve its objectives, the Government has requested the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the ‘EBRD’). The EBRD has agreed to provide the support requested, in the form of this technical cooperation project.

This project focuses on supporting the development of the policy, legal, regulatory and institutional basis for modern and responsible mining operations in Uzbekistan. Specifically, the project is designed to help: (i) prepare a new policy for the sector; and, (ii) prepare a new subsoil law.

The project is being implemented together with the Ministry for Mining Industry and Geology – formerly the State Geology Committee (GosComGeology) – and the Agency for State Reforms.

Understanding Transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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Uzbekistan - Critical Raw Materials Market Development

Project Description

Enquiries

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Project Description

Understanding Transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)