President Mirziyoyev signed a decree on Monday allowing individuals, among others, to dig precious metals as of March 1, 2019. At present, only state-owned companies - Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Complex and Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex are allowed to mine precious metals.
In accordance with the decree, three year artisanal digging permit may be obtained by both legal and natural persons. Diggers will be offered subsoil plots of not more than one hectare and a starting value of 7.5 million soums, including placer gold mines, throughbidding based procedure.
Diggers will also be able to sell the mined products at the contract price set by NMCC and AMMC, as well as legal entities and individuals licensed to manufacture jewelry.
The decree preamble states that unauthorized mining of precious metals has become systemic in the places of industrial mining areas and has led to the shadow turnover of precious metals and their illegal export.
