Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 15 October, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the "Yoshlik-1" deposit in Almalyk, where he reviewed its development and the construction of the third copper processing plant. The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (AGMK), a leader in the extraction of non-ferrous and precious metals, contributes approximately 5% of Uzbekistan's gross industrial output and 6% of its exports. The plant employs around 35,000 people.

In 2023, the plant produced 148,000 tons of copper, over 17 tons of gold, and 162 tons of silver. Investments in the development of the plant amounted to US$1.1 billion, with product exports reaching US$662 million.

One of the key projects of AGMK is the development of the "Yoshlik-1" deposit, which spans 11,000 hectares. Its reserves include 65 million tons of ore per year, containing 13 types of rare and precious metals such as gold, copper, silver, molybdenum, and selenium. The project for developing the deposit and constructing the third copper processing plant began on 29 July 2021.

The total cost of the project is estimated at US$4.6 billion. So far, 200 million cubic meters of the deposit surface have been excavated, 41 kilometers of railway have been laid, and a substation with a capacity of 650 megawatts has been established. Equipment is being supplied from various countries, including the USA, Germany, China, and Russia.

In the first phase, the plant will be able to process 60 million tons of ore per year, producing 917,000 tons of copper and 2,500 tons of molybdenum concentrates annually. This phase is expected to create 5,600 new jobs. By 2028, after the implementation of the second phase, the plant's capacity will triple, allowing for the production of 400,000 tons of copper, 50 tons of gold, and 270 tons of silver annually.

The President highlighted the project's significance for the development of related industries, as well as its impact on employment and education. Plans are in place to elevate the Almalyk plant to a global level, supplying its products to the growing markets of the "green economy" and electric transportation.

By 2030, an increase in demand for copper products by 40% is anticipated, which will secure AGMK's stable position in the international market.