TASHKENT: Uzbekistan is focusing on the development of its geological industry, introducing modern technologies, and attracting foreign investment to discover and utilize underground resources. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently reviewed measures to increase mineral reserves and the volume of mineral development in the country.
Over the past six years, Uzbekistan has launched 15 new kaolin processing projects worth $148 million, resulting in a nearly 2-fold increase in the output volume of finished products. Kaolin exports have reached $65 million. Additionally, coal production has increased by 1.4 times, reaching 5.4 million tons during the same period.
Uzbekistan’s Goals for This Year
The presentation highlighted plans to further develop the geology sector, including increasing reserves of uranium, kaolin, and coal. This year, Uzbekistan aims to produce 6.7 million tons of coal. Moreover, the country is implementing 33 kaolin projects worth $620 million to produce high-value-added products, with exports projected to reach $81 million this year and $180 million by 2030.
The exploration work to increase uranium reserves will continue in collaboration with foreign companies. President Mirziyoyev emphasized the need for further improvement in these areas, focusing on increasing production volume, efficient use of raw materials, and utilization of unique technologies and human resources.
The president instructed to expedite geological exploration by transferring five promising coal sites in Surkhandarya to the private sector and introduce technologies to improve the quality and sorting of coal mined in Angren. Additionally, he urged the exploration of new kaolin deposits and an increase in its reserves to 200 million tons, along with the expansion of projects for processing this raw material.
Uzbekistan is determined to attract foreign investors to develop hydrothermal and black shale uranium deposits, signaling a promising future for the country’s geological industry and potential contributions to the national economy.
