Uzbekistan's Almalyk MMC launches 900,000 tpy third copper concentrator

TASHKENT. March 16 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan's Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (Almalyk MMC) has launched Copper Concentrating Plant No. 3, with capacity to produce 900,000 tonnes of copper concentrate from 60 million tonnes of ore per year, the Uzbek president's press office said.

"This $2.7 billion project, implemented across 196 hectares as part of the development program of the Yoshlik-1 deposit, is a modern industrial complex that will further strengthen the country's industrial potential and enable the deep processing of its natural resources," it said.

International companies were involved in the project, including Wood from Italy and Worley Parsons from the United Kingdom. The plant incorporates advanced technologies from leading global companies such as Metso, FLSmidth, Weir Minerals and Siemens.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at the launch ceremony that given the projects to be launched this year, the capacity for deep processing of copper will reach 240,000 tonnes. The Yoshlik-1 and Kalmakyr deposits contain 45 million tonnes of copper and more than 5,000 tonnes of gold, enough feedstock to last the sector for at least 100 years. Rare metals such as molybdenum, selenium, tellurium and rhenium are also found in these deposits create a solid foundation for projects in new innovative areas.

In addition, work has begun on the construction of a new copper smelter costing $2.5 billion. Thanks to these two large facilities, annual production of copper cathodes will increase from 148,500 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes, gold from 20 tonnes to 33 tonnes, silver from 161 tonnes to 203 tonnes and molybdenum from 850 tonnes to 1,700 tonnes. Production of sulfuric acid, used in uranium mining and the chemical industry, will triple.

Once Copper Concentrating Plant No. 3 reaches full capacity, the daily production of copper concentrate at Almalyk MMC will increase from the current 2,400 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes.

The president said front-end engineering and design for Copper Concentrating Plant No. 4, which boost these figures another 50%, was in full swing.

Uzbekistan intends to increase the extraction of gold to 175 tonnes by 2030, silver to 500 tonnes, uranium to 15,000 tonne and copper to 500,000 tonnes. "Nearly 40,000 high-paying jobs are expected to be created as part of the $22 billion projects being implemented," he said.

Almalyk, one of Central Asia's biggest base metals producers, produces 90% of Uzbekistan's silver and 20% of its gold and accounts for 7% of its industrial output and 15% of it exports. It comprises three concentrators, two mining enterprises and two metallurgical plants.