Uzbekistan plans to establish a gold mining and processing cluster in Karakalpakstan and expand geological exploration in the region. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this at a meeting in Nukus on September 19.
The head of state noted that geological exploration in the region has covered only 20% of the area. While major investors are showing interest, data on raw material reserves in Karakalpakstan is insufficient, hindering full utilization of the potential.
The president cited the example of a Chinese investor's project at the Urusoy deposit in the Karauzyak district. The company invested $33 million and introduced new technologies. As a result, 4 tons of gold reserves were identified on 200 hectares (valued at $563 million at current prices) and 320 jobs were created.
Officials were tasked to resolve issues raised by investors within one month, create a gold mining and processing cluster with 1,000 new jobs, and develop a comprehensive geological exploration program to reassess deposit reserves.
At the meeting, Shavkat Mirziyoyev also emphasized the need for deep processing of mineral raw materials in Karakalpakstan. From the Borsakelmas deposit in the Kungrad district, 1 million tons of technical salt are sold annually without processing. At the Kuskanatau deposit in the Buzatov district, processing mirabilite can yield up to 45,000 tons of sodium sulfate per year, and processing astrakhanite can produce magnesium sulfate.
Furthermore, a German company plans to invest $30 million in a quartzite deposit in the Beruniy district. The investor aims to establish crystalline silicon production and export $25 million worth of products annually. According to the meeting, the world market price of one ton of crystalline silicon is approximately $5,500.
Chemical industry officials were instructed to prepare and implement additional projects worth $200 million on top of the previously planned $400 million initiatives. These projects are expected to create 5,000 new jobs. Recall that Uzbekistan produces about 120 tons of gold annually, with the majority (approximately 100 tons) coming from the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine.
Source: www.gazeta.uz