US and Armenian officials mining opportunities and technical assistance as the two countries move to implement their May agreement on critical minerals.

Armenia and the United States have begun practical work on implementing their memorandum of understanding on critical minerals and rare earth elements.

Paul Hueper, Director of the Office of Energy Supply Chains at the US Department of State, met representatives of the Armenian government, private sector and civil society in Yerevan on September 30. The talks focused on Armenia’s mining sector, its needs and opportunities, and potential areas for US technical assistance.

The engagement follows the framework memorandum signed by Armenia and the United States on May 26, covering cooperation in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

The US Embassy in Yerevan described the cooperation as part of efforts to develop secure and diversified critical-minerals supply chains and strengthen the economic dimension of the US-Armenia Strategic Partnership.

For Armenia, the agreement creates an avenue for greater cooperation with the United States in a sector the government views as having potential for investment and economic development. The September 30 meetings brought the discussion beyond the framework agreement and into consultations with government officials, businesses, and civil society.

No specific investment project or financial commitment was announced during the meetings.