President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the programs for the transformation of metallurgical enterprises and their plans for 2025 on Monday.
According to the presidential press service, over the past seven years, production in this industry has increased by 1.5 times. In particular, the annual volume of gold production has increased by 26 tons, silver - by 77 tons, copper - by 32 thousand tons compared to 2016.
Over the past five years, about $9.5 billion in investment has been attracted to the mining and metallurgical industry, which made it possible to launch 15 major projects. It accounts for a third of the country's total industrial production.
At the meeting, the Minister of Mining and Geology, as well as the heads of the plants, presented plans for the future.
In 2025, it is planned to attract $1 billion in investment to projects in the mining and geological industries. Kaolin production should increase by 50%, and coal production should reach 10 million tons.
This year, the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Plant placed Eurobonds on the international market for the first time and raised $1 billion at a rate of 6.7% and 6.95%. Next year, it plans to issue Eurobonds worth another $500 million. First Deputy General Director of NGMK Evgeny Antonov previously told Gazeta.uz how the plant maintains mining profitability, assesses the resource base and prospects for gold prices.
A third copper ore beneficiation plant (copper beneficiation plant, CBP-3) will be put into operation at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant, and a new casting and rolling complex will be put into operation at the Uzbek Metallurgical Plant (initially planned to be launched in 2020, but then postponed to the end of 2024, then to 2026).
The Technological Metals Plant of Uzbekistan intends to expand the production of rare earth metals, which are in demand in the "green economy".
The President emphasized that in 2025, the plants must carry out large-scale changes through transformation in order to increase their competitiveness in global markets.
The most important tasks were identified as reducing the cost of production, fully digitalizing activities, attracting funds from international markets, introducing new technologies and automating production processes.
The president noted that enterprises must quickly adapt to changes in the global economy and show initiative. Measures were announced to reduce costs based on the principles of economy and efficiency, as well as to ensure an uninterrupted supply of the industry with the necessary raw materials.
