Turning Brine into Value: Unlocking Central Asia’s Hidden Critical Minerals

Central Asia’s vast hydrocarbon and geothermal reserves hold immense untapped potential for critical raw materials vital to the global energy transition. Groundbreaking research from the University of Oxford reveals that oilfield brines—long considered waste—can serve as profitable sources of major and ultra-rare elements such as lithium, bromine, gallium, and rare earths.  The session will feature short presentations and a panel discussion showcasing Oxford’s spin-out companies and their real-world applications — showing potential revenue streams exceeding traditional hard-rock mining values, discuss technology transfer partnerships already underway, and outline how Central Asian nations can leverage existing oil and gas infrastructure to become global leaders in critical mineral supply. This is not theoretical research, it's proven technology ready for scale-up, offering Central Asia the opportunity to supply the materials essential for the next Industrial Revolution while maintaining environmental responsibility and generating substantial economic returns.