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ASEAN declaration seeks a regional critical minerals strategy under its Principles for Sustainable Minerals Development

15 November 2026

The Southeast Asian grouping has issued a declaration asking for a regional strategy on critical minerals so that more of the value in the region's ores stays within it. The strategy is to give direction to cooperation along the whole chain, from responsible exploration and extraction to processing, refining, manufacturing and recycling. The declaration wants trade and investment within the region raised, supply sources widened, production and distribution networks strengthened, and geological and market information improved. It asks for public and private money to be mobilised by preparing investible projects and easing access to finance and to measures that reduce risk. Mining is to be carried out in line with the ASEAN Principles for Sustainable Minerals Development, with better environmental and social performance and larger gains for local communities. Cooperation on critical minerals will be voluntary and will follow the national laws of each member state.

Framework named: ASEAN Principles for Sustainable Minerals Development Value chain covered: Exploration and extraction to processing, refining, manufacturing and recycling Basis of cooperation: Voluntary, under national laws of member states

Why it matters for exams: The durable fact is the framework named in the declaration, the ASEAN Principles for Sustainable Minerals Development, and the decision that ASEAN will build a regional critical minerals strategy covering the value chain from exploration to recycling on a voluntary basis.

Kerala PSCUPSC

15 November 2026 Source: Philippine News Agency

In plain words

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations — An eleven-member grouping of Southeast Asian states formed in 1967, with Timor-Leste admitted in 2025 as the eleventh member.

Critical minerals Critical minerals — Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and the rare earth elements that are essential for batteries, electronics and clean energy equipment and whose supply is concentrated in a few countries.