Singapore, 4 September 2026: The Third Regional Workshop on Priority Economic Deliverable (PED) No. 6: ASEAN Critical Minerals for Regional Resilience and Sustainable Growth was convened in Singapore under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship on 1–4 September 2026.

Bringing together representatives from ASEAN Member States to advance a regional critical minerals framework, the 4-day workshop marked an important milestone in concluding the regional consultation series before the proposed outcome documents proceed to official consideration and endorsement.

The workshop was guided by the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the ASEAN Secretariat, with support from ERIA, the Asian Development Bank, and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development.

Building on the outcomes of the First and Second Regional Workshops held in March and June 2026, participants reviewed and refined the proposed framework for identifying critical minerals in ASEAN. Discussions focused on validating the proposed regional taxonomy and methodology, reviewing the indicative regional critical minerals list, and advancing the drafting of the regional declaration, definition, and policy brief on ASEAN critical minerals.

A dedicated stakeholder consultation on the second day provided an opportunity for private-sector representatives, civil society organisations, and international organisations to share their perspectives on the proposed critical minerals list and policy brief. Discussions highlighted considerations related to investment, responsible mineral development, regional value chains, and the role of critical minerals in supporting ASEAN’s energy transition and industrial development.

On the final day, ASEAN Member States and partners undertook site visits to recycling and urban mining facilities in Singapore, including World Metal Group and SK Tes. The visits provided first-hand insights into metal, electronic waste, and battery recycling, and their role in supporting circular economy approaches and strengthening the resilience of critical minerals value chains.

The workshop concluded with a strong commitment to advancing the proposed outputs towards adoption later this year through ASEAN processes.