Uzbekistan Technological Metals Combinat (UzKTK) has ambitious plans to significantly increase its production of tungsten and molybdenum by 2030. The company aims to boost tungsten production by a staggering 50 times and molybdenum production by 3.4 times in value terms.
This announcement was made by Ulugbek Ruziyev, Deputy Head of UzKTK. He highlighted the company’s commitment to developing Uzbekistan’s rare metals sector, with 34 projects focused on exploration, extraction, and processing.
UzKTK’s diverse project portfolio includes:
- Exploration: 17 projects dedicated to identifying and assessing new deposits of lithium, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, graphite, and other rare earth metals.
- Technology development: 8 projects focused on developing specialized technologies for processing rare metals.
- Geological data analysis: 6 projects aimed at consolidating geological mapping, biochemical, and geophysical data.
- Resource utilization: 3 projects focused on utilizing additional metals and rare elements.
Established in July 2024 on the foundation of the “Rare Metals and Hard Alloys” scientific and production association, UzKTK is poised to become a key player in Uzbekistan’s burgeoning rare metals industry.
This ambitious growth strategy aligns with the government’s focus on developing the rare metals sector. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for $500 million in projects for the extraction and processing of rare earth metals, recognizing their growing importance in the global market.
Uzbekistan has also strengthened international collaborations in this area, signing memorandums of understanding with the European Union and the United States on cooperation in critical raw materials. These partnerships will facilitate the development, financing, and infrastructure needed to support the sustainable supply of these valuable resources.
