On May 19, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of projects to develop the geological industry, increase mineral reserves and underground water resources, the presidential press service said.
He was informed about the preparation of 14 projects total worth of $182 million. Noting that the scale of exploration work has increased in recent years, Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for setting higher goals and increasing the production of valuable and rare metals. He set the task to draft a separate exploration program for 2022-2026.
The program should provide for an increase in uranium reserves through the development of 8 new deposits and 18 promising areas, the use of modern foreign drilling equipment and the creation of a digital geological model. In recent years, 27 new uranium deposits have been discovered.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of assessing uranium reserves in line with international standards, as well as improving the efficiency of extracting uranium from ore based on the latest technologies. He also instructed to transform the state enterprise "Navoiuran", attracting foreign specialists and improving technological processes.
It is reported that for the development of promising deposits under the Uzbekistan Fund for Reconstruction and Development, it is planned to create a $15 million project office "Yangi Kon" ("New Mine"). The body will be engaged in the implementation of investment projects for the extraction of lithium, aluminum, magnesium, graphite and other rare metals.
The head of state pointed to the steady increase in the cost of uranium on the world market and pointed to the need to pay special attention in new projects to the processing of this raw material and the creation of value-added products.
To meet the demand for qualified personnel, he instructed to expand the geological programs in the technical schools of Zarafshan, Angren and Guzar. Previously, the University of Geological Sciences was organized, and the Navoi Mining Institute was given the status of a university. In addition, joint programs have been established with the University of Pisa and St. Petersburg Mining University. However, these measures are still not enough. In the system of the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources alone, more than 300 mid-level specialists are required per year, the meeting said.
The presentation also said that in recent years the groundwater level has dropped to 5 meters in 13 districts and to 20 meters in 9 districts of Uzbekistan. Responsible organizations were instructed to increase groundwater reserves and organize their rational use.
