CCOP

14/07/2026

Third In-Class Training Advances AI-Based Mineral Exploration in ASEAN

MANILA, 10 July 2026 – The Third In-Class Training Course under the project “Critical Minerals Management and Strategy for Sustainable Environment in ASEAN” concluded successfully at Dusit Thani Manila. Held from 29 June to 10 July 2026, the course brought together 41 participants from nine ASEAN Member States, with experts and supporting organizations from the Republic of Korea and Germany.

Funded by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), the course was implemented by the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) and co-organized with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR–MGB).

The opening ceremony on 29 June was attended by representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, DENR–MGB, CCOP and KIGAM, together with instructors and participants. Welcome addresses were delivered by Mr. Yongzheng Ma, Dr. Soocheol Jeong and Dr. Karlo L. Queaño, Mr. D**g Hoo Kim of the Korean Embassy delivered congratulatory remarks, while Engr. Michael V. Cabalda, Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and concurrent OIC Director of MGB, formally opened the course.

Under the theme “Digital and AI-based Mineral Exploration Data Interpretation and Resource Estimation,” the training covered artificial intelligence and machine learning, mineral prospectivity mapping, geophysical data interpretation, geostatistics, kriging, magnetic and electrical resistivity surveys, mineral project evaluation, and geoscience data management.
The programme combined expert lectures, hands-on exercises, practical surveys and field excursions. Participants conducted magnetic-survey practice at the University of Makati, an indoor electrical-resistivity experiment, and exercises in variogram modelling, kriging and block estimation.

The course concluded with certificate awarding and closing remarks, strengthening technical skills, professional networks and regional cooperation for more integrated, digital and data-driven critical minerals exploration and management in ASEAN.

For media inquiries and more information, please contact:
Dr. Tola SREU
AKCF Project Coordinator, CCOP Technical Secretariat
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ccop.asia
AKCF Website: www.aseanrokfund.com
AKCF Social Media: x.com/akcf_pmt

09/07/2026

“The Sustainability of Critical Minerals Development” Workshop in Seoul, Republic of Korea

Seoul, 23 to 25 June 2026 – The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP), together with the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), successfully organized “The Sustainability of Critical Minerals Development” Workshop at Fraser Place Central Hotel, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The workshop was conducted under the “Critical Minerals Management and Strategy for Sustainable Environment in ASEAN” project, supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). The event brought together experts, policymakers, and representatives from ASEAN Member States and Korea to exchange knowledge on sustainable critical minerals development, investment, industrial competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and regional cooperation.

The opening session featured remarks by Dr. Doohee LEE, Vice President of KIET, and Mr. Yongzheng MA, Director of CCOP. In his remarks, Dr. Doohee LEE highlighted that the strength of Korea–ASEAN cooperation lies not only in mineral resources, but also in mutual creativity, deep-rooted trust, and shared commitment to sustainability. He emphasized the importance of advancing a Korea–ASEAN critical minerals partnership grounded in environmental integrity, social trust, governance, transparency, and responsible value chains.

Mr. Yongzheng MA, Director of CCOP, underlined the workshop as an important milestone in strengthening cooperation on critical minerals for sustainable development. He expressed appreciation to KIET and the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund for their continued support and emphasized the project’s role in enhancing sustainable supply chains, industrial competitiveness, policy alignment, digital innovation, and capacity building among ASEAN Member States.
Throughout the workshop, CCOP actively contributed to the facilitation of technical discussions. Dr. Songyang WU, Regional Expert of CCOP, moderated the Discussion and Q&A session under Session 1: Cooperation for Critical Minerals Development, which covered key topics such as responsible business conduct, investment policy tools, industrial competitiveness, policy cooperation, and the ASEAN-KIGAM critical mineral exploration data platform.

In Session 2: Sustainability of Critical Minerals, Dr. Tola SREU, AKCF Project Coordinator of CCOP, moderated the Discussion and Q&A session, which addressed green power cooperation, industry-academia-research collaboration, and transport and logistics infrastructure for strengthening critical mineral supply chain resilience.

The workshop also featured country report sessions, where ASEAN Member State delegations shared national perspectives, current developments, challenges, and opportunities related to sustainable critical minerals development. In addition, participants joined field visits to POSCO Future M and KIET, providing practical insights into Korea’s industrial development and critical minerals value chain.
Through this workshop, CCOP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ASEAN Member States in advancing sustainable, responsible, and resilient critical minerals development, while strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea.

For more information, please visit https://ccop.asia/news/347

30/06/2026

ISGEO Training Course 2026: Advancing Resource Utilization and Recycling Technologies

On 15–20 June 2026, the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) jointly hosted the ISGEO Training Course 2026 in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Themed “KIGAM IS-Geo Capacity Building Training Program for CCOP Member Countries on Resource Utilization and Recycling Technologies”, the one-week program brought together 26 participants from 11 CCOP Member Countries.

Opening Ceremony
On 16 June, Dr. Kwangsuk You, Director of ISGEO, Global Cooperation Division at KIGAM, welcomed the participants, expressing his hope that the training would provide valuable knowledge and practical insights. Dr. Myeong Jong Yi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to CCOP and Vice President of KIGAM, delivered the opening remarks. He extended his gratitude to the ISGEO team for their dedication and highlighted the longstanding contributions of ISGEO and KIGAM in advancing capacity building and promoting sustainable regional geoscience development.

Classroom Sessions
On 16 and 18 June, participants attended lectures delivered by eight experts from KIGAM and the University of Science and Technology. The curriculum covered critical topics, including:
• Recycling technologies for waste glass and plastics (with emphasis on sorting)
• Eco-friendly lithium battery recycling testbed development
• Lithium and titanium ore processing technologies
Through a blend of theoretical instruction and case studies, participants gained deeper insights into sustainable resource management and innovative recycling processes.

Field Visits in Pohang
On 17 June, participants visited two key facilities in Pohang Province:
• Energy Materials Co., Ltd. — a major secondary battery recycling facility operated by GS E&C. The plant utilizes advanced robotics to process up to 10,000 tons of black powder from waste electric vehicle batteries annually, showcasing cutting-edge sustainable recycling practices.
• KIGAM Pohang Research Branch — a center dedicated to developing geological resource technologies tailored to Pohang’s unique environment, including the largest Cenozoic 3rd base on the Korean Peninsula, Yeongil Bay, and deep-sea environments exceeding 2,000 meters. The branch plays a pivotal role in fostering regional cooperation and driving innovation in future energy resource development.

Field Visits in Daejeon
On 19 June, participants toured facilities in Daejeon, including the Daejeon Metropolitan Corporation, Daejeon City Corporation (DCCO), and the Resource Recirculation Center. The visits provided firsthand exposure to:
• Biogas production and control room operations
• Factories and power plants utilizing recycled products
• Exploration of improved emission reduction methods and resource recirculation practices.

For more information, please visit https://ccop.asia/news/346

30/06/2026

Proceedings of the CCOP Thematic Session 2025 Released

CCOP Technical Secretariat released the Proceedings of the CCOP Thematic Session 2025. The volume features 7 papers contributed by researchers from CCOP Member Countries, showcasing recent research and regional collaboration in geoscience.

CCOP Thematic Session 2025was held at the 61st CCOP Annual Session on 5 November 2025 in Vientiane, Lao PDR under the theme “Geoscience Driving Sustainability and Resilience”, supported by the Department of Geology and Mines, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR.

The Proceedings are now available on the website of CCOP (https://ccop.asia/e-library)

08/06/2026

On 25–28 May 2026, Mr. Yongzheng Ma and Dr. Songyang Wu joined the 41st Annual Conference of the Geoscience Information Consortium (GIC), hosted by the China Geological Survey, in Beijing, China.

Connecting the world's geoinformatics communities since 1986, the GIC promotes the exchange of know-how on geoscience information systems, with this year's programme focused on FAIR data, AI readiness and digital transition. CCOP's participation reinforced the role as a bridge between East and Southeast Asia and the global geoinformatics community.

Besides the country presentations from 25 geological surveys in the world, Mr. Yongzheng Ma, Director of the CCOP Technical Secretariat, presented "CCOP Regional Cooperation in Digital Transition." He introduced the CCOP Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and highlighted Strategic Aim II, which is a dedicated commitment to driving digital transformation across the East and Southeast Asia.

In the presentation, Mr. Yongzheng Ma also underscored four relevant projects of digitalization under the CCOP regional cooperation, which are designed to interoperate through shared OGC standards.

In closing, he stressed the importance of governance, standards, and partnership for the digital transformation, and the principle that CCOP always upholds: data sovereignty and data sharing are "two sides of the same coin of trust".

For more information: https://ccop.asia/news/345

21/05/2026

The Inception Workshop of the Adaptation Fund (AF) regional project titled “Groundwater Resources in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Collaborative Management to Increase Climate Change Resilience" was held online on 20 May 2026, formally marking the official launch of the project.

The four-year project, with a total budget of nearly USD 4.9 million, aims to strengthen the climate change resilience of the Greater Mekong Subregion through the collaborative and sustainable management of shared groundwater resources across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. CCOP Technical Secretariat serves as one of the project's Executing Entities, working together with UNESCO, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) and Mekong River Commission (MRC).

The workshop brought together representatives of the national agencies of Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, together with the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the UNESCO Offices in Vietnam and Cambodia, IWMI, IGRAC, and MRC. Mr. Yongzheng Ma, Dr. Songyang Wu, Ms. Marivic Pulvera Uzarraga attended the workshop on behalf of CCOP.

Ms. Marina Patrier, Deputy Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, welcomed participants and underlined the importance of regional collaboration in addressing shared groundwater challenges under a changing climate. Her remarks set the tone for a workshop focused on alignment, shared understanding, and readiness for implementation.

Following an overview of the project's background, objectives, components and expected outcomes, the workshop proceeded through a structured series of working sessions designed to confirm shared understanding and operational readiness

As an Executing Entity, CCOP-TS made substantive technical contributions throughout the workshop. In the session on the work plan & pilot areas, governance & implementation, Dr. Songyang Wu, Regional Expert, provided an assessment of the feasibility and sequencing of the workplan, CCOPTS’s role in regional coordination and its approach to operational implementation, and the operational coordination mechanisms linking national agencies, the Executing Entities, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok as Multilateral Implementing Entity, the PSC and the Adaptation Fund. To ensure effective and consistent delivery, Dr. Songyang Wu emphasized harmonized methodologies, structured technical oversight, and adaptive management across all pilot sites.

Mr. Flavio Bonetti, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, delivered the closing remarks. The Inception Workshop concluded with a shared confirmation of readiness to begin implementation.

With the project now officially launched, CCOP looks forward to working closely with UNESCO, IWMI, IGRAC, MRC and the national agencies of the four participating countries to the success of the project and advance the collaborative management of groundwater resources and strengthen climate change resilience across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

For more information about the project: https://www.adaptation-fund.org/project/groundwater-resources-greater-mekong-subregion-collaborative-management-increase-resilience-cambodia-lao-peoples-democratic-republic-myanmar-thailand-vietnam-2/

20/05/2026

5th AKCF Technical Workshop Strengthens Regional Cooperation on Sustainable Critical Minerals Management in ASEAN

Hanoi, 15 May 2026 - The 5th Technical Workshop under the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) Project on "Critical Minerals Management and Strategy for Sustainable Environment in ASEAN" was successfully held from 13 to 15 May 2026 at the Thang Long Opera Hotel in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The workshop was supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund from the Government of the Republic of Korea and implemented by the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP), in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade (KIET).
The workshop brought together representatives from ASEAN Member States, KIGAM, KIET, and GeoAI Data Society to strengthen regional cooperation on sustainable critical minerals exploration, mining development, database management, and policy support.

The opening ceremony was held on 13 May 2026 with a welcome address by Dr. Tran My Dung, Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam Department of Geology and Minerals, followed by opening remarks from Dr. Soocheol JEONG of KIGAM, Dr. D**gsoo KIM of KIET, and Mr. Yongzheng MA, Director of CCOP Technical Secretariat. The speakers highlighted the strategic importance of critical minerals for energy transition, green growth, advanced industries, and resilient supply chains, while emphasizing modern exploration technologies, digital tools, sustainable development, and practical regional cooperation.

Technical sessions on the first day featured presentations by KIGAM and KIET on advanced exploration and mining technologies, progress and key achievements of the ASEAN-Korea Critical Minerals Cooperation Project, and the importance of industrial infrastructure for sustainable critical minerals development.
The Country Technical Report session, held under the theme "Sustainable Exploration and Development of Critical Minerals," provided a platform for ASEAN Member States to share updates on critical minerals supply chains, value-chain development, sustainable exploration principles, environmental and social considerations, technology applications, investment opportunities, national initiatives, key challenges, regional cooperation, and future directions.

On 14 May 2026, the workshop focused on the ASEAN Critical Mineral Database and Platform (ACMDP). Dr. Saro LEE from GeoAI Data Society presented the status of the critical mineral database, followed by the Country Database Report session, where national database experts exchanged views on increasing data uploads, improving data accuracy and standardization, enhancing ACMDP value for investors, ensuring long-term database sustainability, and evaluating the platform's impact.

Dr. JongGyu HAN also presented progress on the critical mineral platform, followed by the discussions facilitated by Dr. Saro LEE. The session reinforced the importance of standardized data submission, regular updates, investor-oriented data products, and stronger coordination among participating countries and technical partners.

The workshop concluded on 15 May 2026 with a field excursion to Ha Long Bay, providing participants with an opportunity for networking and informal exchange.

The successful completion of the 5th Technical Workshop reaffirmed the strong partnership among ASEAN, the Republic of Korea, CCOP, KIGAM, KIET, GeoAI Data Society, and participating countries in advancing sustainable critical minerals management. The outcomes will contribute to strengthening technical capacity, improving regional data systems, and supporting ASEAN's efforts toward responsible and sustainable critical minerals development.

For media inquiries and more information, please contact:
Dr. Tola SREU
AKCF Project Coordinator, CCOP Technical Secretariat
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ccop.asia
AKCF Website: www.aseanrokfund.com
AKCF Social Media: x.com/akcf_pmt

13/05/2026

On 3-8 May 2026, Dr. Songyang Wu, Regional Expert of CCOP Technical Secretariat, attended the EGU General Assembly 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

The EGU General Assembly 2026 welcomed 22,497 registered attendees, of which 20,027 made their way to Vienna from 125 countries and 2,470 joined online from 107 countries.

On 5 May 2026, Dr. Songyang Wu joined the Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) Townhall Meeting as one of the panelists. Dr. Songyang Wu shared the importance of the geoscience data platform to Southeast Asia and underscored the CCOP achievements in the digitalization of geoscience in the past decade. In the Townhall Meeting, DDE announced the launch of the DDE International Science Initiative (DDE-ISI), with 6 priority themes and 3 levels of funding up to 1.4M USD for three years, which is open for applications from the world. All proposals will be evaluated by the DDE Science Committee, an independent body of internationally renowned experts active in research fields related to DDE.

On 7 May 2026, Dr. Songyang Wu gave an oral presentation titled “Digital-Twin-Based 3D Geological Modeling and Integrated Exploration Data Platforms for Critical Mineral Exploration in ASEAN”, in the session “Mining for tomorrow: new technological and analytical advances in mineral exploration and production”. He introduced the ongoing AKCF Project in CCOP, highlighted the progress of the development of the critical mineral exploration system and data platform for ASEAN.

For more information: https://ccop.asia/news/341

21/04/2026

As an endorsing partner, we are delighted to support GEOMIN, which will take place this September in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. We also sincerely encourage colleagues and professionals from the Member Countries’ geoscience community to take part in this exciting event.

GEOMIN is far more than a conference, it is an international platform that brings together leaders and experts from geoscience, mining, and innovation to exchange knowledge, build connections, and advance AI-powered exploration and data-driven discovery across the Super Region.

Abstract submissions are now open until 11 May 2026:

Building on the landmark success of GEOMIN 2025 in Saudi Arabia, GEOMIN 2026 moves to Uzbekistan, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

21/04/2026

As the Supporting Organization, we are pleased to share the 38th International Geological Congress, which will be held in Calgary, Canada from 12-20 August 2028, inspired by the theme Geosciences for Humanity.

Detailed information about IGC 2028 can be found in the First Circular (https://www.igc2028canada.org/igc-2028-circulars).

Important Dates:

Session Proposals
March 2026 – March 2027

Abstract Submission
June 2027 – March 2028

Online Registration
June 2027 – June 2028

For more information, please visit our website (https://www.igc2028canada.org/).

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