Kyrgyzstan and the UK Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Key Minerals

On December 5, 2025, Nurbek Tashbekov, head of the Political and Economic Research Department of the Kyrgyz Presidential Office, and Stephen Dowty, the UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, held bilateral talks in London. The two sides subsequently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in key minerals.

This cooperation follows British Foreign Secretary David Cameron's visit to Central Asian countries in April 2024, marking a more active involvement of the UK in Central Asian affairs. For Kyrgyzstan, cooperation with the UK is another example of its diversified and balanced diplomacy, aimed at attracting more foreign investment and promoting economic development.

01 Core Contents of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Key Minerals

The memorandum was signed during the Kyrgyz delegation's participation in the "Resources Future 2025" forum, an annual event of London Mining Week. The signed memorandum clarifies that the two countries will cooperate in areas such as geological exploration, implementing high standards of environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines, expanding business networks, and exchanging professional experience. The cooperation agreement reveals that the UK will provide technical, management standards, and financial support, while Kyrgyzstan will primarily offer mineral resource development and investment opportunities. This cooperation model aligns with the current global trend in mineral resource development—combining capital, technology, and resources.

This signed memorandum provides a new platform for deepening bilateral relations, helping to expand economic cooperation and creating more opportunities to attract investment in key mineral projects.

02 Kyrgyzstan's Resource Advantages and Strategic Considerations

Located in the heart of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is mountainous, with mountains covering 90% of its land area, earning it the nickname "Switzerland of Central Asia." This geographical feature endows the country with abundant mineral resources.

In addition to considerable iron ore reserves, Kyrgyzstan is also rich in rare metals such as gold, antimony, tungsten, manganese, mercury, and uranium. Its tin and mercury production ranks second in the CIS, and its geological gold reserves are estimated at 2,500-3,000 tons, with proven industrial reserves of approximately 560 tons.

In particular, Kyrgyzstan possesses the world's 7th largest antimony reserves (accounting for 4.3%), while China dominates 85% of global antimony smelting capacity. This resource position makes Kyrgyzstan a crucial link in the global supply chain of key minerals.

For Kyrgyzstan, cooperating with the UK to develop key minerals presents a significant opportunity for economic development. Kyrgyzstan is actively promoting economic development; President Japarov signed a decree in August 2025 regarding the establishment of a financial investment special zone in Tamchy, Issyk-Kul Region.

This special zone will have an independent legal system, offering tax and legal incentives for investors, and will even create an institution that can use British law to resolve international disputes, thereby strengthening foreign investor confidence and ensuring legal transparency.

03. UK's Strategic Intent and Technological Advantages

The UK is actively expanding its influence in Central Asia. In April 2024, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited the five Central Asian countries with a new Central Asia development strategy and announced a £50 million donation over the next three years to support the sovereignty and independence of Central Asian nations. In the critical mineral sector, the UK possesses a technological advantage. United Concrete Canvas (UCC), a UK company, is the world's first patent holder for concrete canvas technology, a revolutionary rapid road construction/tailings dam seepage prevention technology.

Concrete canvas is a water-hardening roll material with a strength of 35 MPa after 72 hours. It costs only one-third of traditional concrete and reduces carbon emissions by 90%, making it particularly suitable for rapid infrastructure construction in high-altitude mining areas.

The UK's strategy is driven by the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, which mandates 40% domestic processing by 2030. Currently, China controls 60% of global rare earth refining capacity, and the UK is seeking to mitigate the risks in its supply chain.

04 Specific Cooperation Projects and Investment Scale

Regarding cooperation projects, the UK plans to invest in a concrete canvas factory in Kyrgyzstan. The initial investment for this project is £120 million, 70% guaranteed by UK Export Credit (UKEF), making it one of the largest single industrial investments by the UK in Central Asia.

The plant has an annual production capacity target of 4 million square meters of concrete canvas, enough to cover 80% of Kyrgyzstan's mining area road repair needs. The project may also be tied to a long-term antimony concentrate procurement agreement, helping to break China's monopoly in antimony smelting.

In terms of employment, the project will create more than 1,200 direct jobs (including 50 British engineers), helping to alleviate Kyrgyzstan's youth unemployment rate (currently 23.4%).

Kyrgyzstan is currently developing a "National Development Strategy for Key Minerals" (draft planned for release in the fourth quarter of 2025), providing a policy framework for the systematic development of mineral resources.

05 Great Power Competition and Geopolitical Background

The cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the UK occurs against a complex geopolitical backdrop. In recent years, several major powers have been vying for influence and resources in Central Asia.

The United States formulated a strategy for acquiring strategic raw materials overseas in the early 20th century, and in recent years has extended its reach for strategic resources to Central and South Asia. Meanwhile, China's mining investment in Kyrgyzstan has reached $4.7 billion, far exceeding the current investment scale of the UK.

Russia is also closely monitoring the region. Analysts believe Russia may invoke Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) rules to restrict "third-party mineral agreements." Russia's soft power in Central Asia is declining, but it remains an important influencing factor.

Regarding the great power rivalry, the Kyrgyz government stated that the country has the right to choose its partners. Kyrgyz President Japarov has emphasized that the country is pursuing a flexible multilateral foreign policy and hopes to develop mutually beneficial relations with all countries.

06 Challenges and Risks of Cooperation

Kyrgyzstan's key mineral cooperation with the UK faces several challenges. First, there is the issue of technological compatibility. The low temperatures (-30°C) in the mining area at altitudes above 3000 meters place special requirements on material properties, and the acidity/alkalinity of tailings (pH 2.5-11) may corrode the canvas reinforcement fibers.

Second, there are environmental and social risks. The area surrounding the mining area is largely snow leopard habitat, and the World Wildlife Fund has issued a warning; concrete hardening may alter groundwater flow, sparking environmental controversies.

To address these challenges, both sides have established the Kyrgyz Minerals Cooperation Working Group, prioritizing the coordination of mining rights approvals and ESG standards. Simultaneously, the project is considering introducing third-party certification (such as Rio Tinto's involvement in the feasibility study) and has committed to supplying 20% ​​of its products to the EU market to avoid accusations of "China ties."

Kyrgyzstan is also actively improving its investment environment. According to a Kyrgyz government report, the country's budget has tripled in the past three years, thanks to political stability, successful governance, anti-corruption efforts, and economic reforms.

With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Key Minerals Cooperation, cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the UK has entered a substantial phase of progress. Financing support from the UK Export Credit Agency and technological innovation from UCC will provide new impetus for mineral resource development in Kyrgyzstan.

For Kyrgyzstan, cooperation with the UK is a concrete practice of its diversified and balanced diplomacy and an important opportunity to attract foreign investment and promote economic development. For the UK, this is an important step in ensuring the security of the key mineral supply chain and implementing a "de-risking" strategy.

In the geoeconomic game, key minerals have become a new focus of strategic competition among major powers. Kyrgyzstan is trying to find room for its own development in this competition, while Britain hopes to gain a foothold in this important region of Central Asia by leveraging its technological advantages and standards exports.