Uzbekistan aims to process up to 300,000 tons of copper domestically

Uzbekistan plans to annually process up to 300,000 tons of copper in its domestic market. To reach this target, the country is creating clusters, technoparks, and joint ventures focused on the production of copper-based products. This was announced by Ural Yusupov, Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology of Uzbekistan, during the International Congress on "Mining Industry and Geology of Uzbekistan and Central Asia."

Yusupov highlighted that one such initiative is the copper cluster in Akhangaran, located in the Tashkent region. The project will involve the phased production of semiconductors, microelectronic components, and other high-value-added products. Raw materials for this project will be supplied by the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC).

In June, AMMC revealed plans to increase copper production to 500,000 tons by 2031, a significant jump from the current production level of around 150,000 tons. To support this expansion, the company intends to invest $15 billion over the coming years.

The first phase (2021–2025) aims to boost the production of cathode copper by 300,000 tons, leveraging the development of the "Yoshlik-1" deposit. The second phase (2024–2028) will raise production to 400,000 tons, while the third phase (2026–2030) targets a total output of 500,000 tons.