Uzbekistan’s copper processing capacity is expected to reach 240000 tonnes this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during the inauguration of Copper Processing Plant No. 3 at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AGMK).
According to the president, processing volumes are set to continue growing over the next two to three years as new investment projects in the mining and metallurgical sector are implemented.
Mirziyoyev emphasised that global demand for copper is increasing rapidly as the metal becomes increasingly important for modern industry. Copper plays a critical role in sectors such as energy, electrical engineering, digital technologies, artificial intelligence and the development of green energy systems.
“Those who create a high value-added chain in the copper industry will effectively create the industry of the future,” the president said.
As an example of the country’s expanding mining potential, Mirziyoyev highlighted the Yoshlik-1 deposit. The project was previously considered technically complex and difficult to develop, but production is now rapidly ramping up.
The president said the mine is expected to produce around 20 million tonnes of ore this year. Over the next two years, output from the deposit is planned to increase to approximately 60 million tonnes.
The expansion of processing capacity at AGMK forms part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to strengthen its position as a major producer of copper and other strategic metals, while building higher value-added industrial supply chains.
Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Mirziyoyev officially launched the new copper processing plant at AGMK as part of the country’s industrial development programme.
