Supraregional - Technical Cooperation in Central Asia - Module Tajikistan

Antimony Mineral Benefication Plant Anzob, Tajikistan Source: Department for Geology

The enormous mineral potential in central Asia is of great importance for the future economic development in the region. The continuously growing mining sector provides the opportunity for sustainable job creation and income for poverty reduction. Partly minerals extracted are still exported as raw materials. Enabling the countries to process raw materials through technology transfer can add higher value to the commodities and increase export revenues.

A common problem in the region is the attraction of foreign direct investment in the mining sector. The geological information gathered in the past has to be re-assessed geologically and economically and made available to the potential investors. Improved service orientation of government institutions, like geological surveys and inspection units can optimize the attractiveness of the mineral rich region.   

At the same time, mining has a large impact on the environment. The main environmental problems related to mining activities in Central Asia are the contamination of water, arable land and air.

Improved pollution management, can minimize the contamination of the environment and safeguard livelihood and health of the local population living in the surrounding of mines. Economically and environmentally sustainable mining can boost substantially the development of the region.

Program

In 2011 the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) conducted a fact finding mission on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The proposed regional technical cooperation program “Mineral Resources for Development in Central Asia” was approved and implementation of the program is under way.

The support through the program focuses on the improvement of the framework conditions so that the mineral resources sector better contributes to a sustainable and socially beneficial economic development in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The program modules are:

• Dialogue platform for the mineral sector,
• Framework conditions for investment and technology transfer,
• Qualification framework for the mineral sector,
• Assistance to Head Department of Geology, Tajikistan.

Ongoing Project:

• Mineral Resources for Development II – BGR Module Tajikistan