Tashkent, Uzbekistan – AN Podrobno.uz. Uzbekistan plans to significantly increase production volumes in the chemical industry through deep processing of its mineral resources.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined new tasks to expand the sector's raw material base and produce high-value-added products at a meeting dedicated to the development of the chemical industry.

The head of state emphasized that the country's vast natural reserves allow for a substantial increase in output and a noticeable improvement in the efficiency of raw material use.

One of the key areas will be the production of caustic soda. In Karakalpakstan, Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, and Navoi regions, there are reserves of sodium and potassium totaling about 550 million tons, as well as 20 million tons of bentonite. According to experts, organizing deep processing of these resources will triple the added value of the final product.

Another promising direction is the development of serpentinite reserves, which amount to 1.5 million tons in Jizzakh region and another 500,000 tons in Karakalpakstan. Processing this mineral with sulfuric acid can yield high-tech magnesium oxide, with a market value of up to $5,000 per ton. Moreover, subsequent stages of serpentinite processing open the possibility of extracting nickel, chromium, and cobalt, which are critical raw materials for the rapidly growing electrical engineering industry.

Following the discussion, relevant agencies were instructed to prepare a comprehensive three-year program aimed at doubling the reserves of chemical raw materials, including phosphorites, halite, mirabilite, and serpentinite. In addition, specialized structures were tasked with launching new investment projects for serpentinite processing worth at least $200 million in the near term.

Source: podrobno.uz