Are There Cross-Border Environmental Risks in Uzbekistan's Minerals Strategy?

Highlights

• Farrukh Tuychiev of Tashkent State University of Law argues Uzbekistan needs stronger cross-border environmental accountability in Central Asia
• The TALCO aluminum case in Tajikistan is cited to illustrate potential pollution, health, and economic risks for neighboring Uzbekistan
• Uzbekistan's government outlined 120 planned mineral projects worth $4.2 billion for 2026–2030, but capacity remains unproven
• Weak cross-border governance can create financial exposure not reflected in headline resource estimates, according to REEx analysis
• Investors are urged to examine environmental baselines, waste-management funding, and liability allocation before assigning supply-security premiums