Uzbekistan's President: Copper, gold, and silver production to surge by 2030

The candidate and current president of Uzbekistan met with Navoi voters, he discussed plans for industrial development in the next seven years.

"Together with our foreign partners, we have launched mega-projects with a total cost of $120 bln. In particular, the proud Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine will implement 19 projects worth $3.8 bln.

For example, the first phase of the "Pistachio Mine" was launched yesterday, and the second phase will be completed by the end of the year. This project will result in an additional production of 4.4 tons of gold per year," the candidate stated.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that thanks to the implementation of 11 projects worth $550 mln in Navoi Uranium, uranium reserves will be increased from 67,000 tons to 100,000 tons.

"In total, by 2030, copper production will increase by 3.5 times, gold by 1.5 times, silver by 3 times, and uranium by 3 times," said the candidate.

For the first time in Uzbekistan, the production of lithium and graphite raw materials will be established, which are in high demand worldwide and are of great importance for electric vehicles, electrical engineering, and green energy.

"In particular, 8,000 tons of lithium are produced annually in the Tashkent region, and 50,000 tons of graphite in Bukhara. In the copper clusters in Ahangaran, black metal in Bekabad, and agricultural machinery in Chirchik, 46 enterprises worth $10 bln will be built," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Gold continues to be Uzbekistan's main export commodity. In April alone, the country exported precious metals worth $650 mln, with the total export volume exceeding $3 bln since the beginning of the year. The Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine, specifically the Muruntau deposit, has been named the largest gold mining site. According to experts' estimates, the mine yielded 2 mln ounces of precious metal.

In 2022, Muruntau extracted approximately 1.7 mln ounces of precious metal from the deposit. The total reserves at Muruntau are estimated at 150 mln ounces, making it the largest gold supplier in Uzbekistan.