In December 2025, a delegation from BRGM, France’s national geological survey, paid an official visit to the University of Geological Sciences in Tashkent. France’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Walid Fouque, took part, together with BRGM’s Olivier Frezot and BRGM geologist and cartographer Thomas Fullgraf.
The two sides discussed establishing relations between the university and BRGM and future cooperation in scientific research, geology, geological mapping and training, and reached agreements on strengthening scientific cooperation, exchanging experience and carrying out joint projects.
The visit included seminars on the fundamentals of geological exploration and the exploration of mineral resources, and on the technical and economic aspects of geological exploration, along with a discussion of mineral extraction and processing, mine closure and post-closure management.
Why it matters
The agreement doesn’t name geothermal energy. It does build what geothermal exploration depends on: geological maps, subsurface data and trained geoscientists. It follows BRGM’s 2024 framework agreement with the ministry, which lists geothermal energy among its themes, and led to further BRGM visits in 2026, including joint work on the Fergana Valley’s geothermal potential.
