Uzbekistan is broadening its international partnerships in the mining sector, with recent agreements signed with Azerbaijani companies focusing on gold and rare earth metals (REMs), hydrocarbon exploration, and the processing of silver-containing ores, as reported by Gazeta.uz, citing the Ministry of Investments of the Republic.
AzerGold, an Azerbaijani gold mining company, has gained access to the Akba deposit in the Kashkadarya region. According to Uzgeologiya, over 13 tonnes of extractable gold reserves were added to the state balance last year, with the site’s potential estimated at an additional 50 tonnes. Concurrently, AzerGold will conduct geological studies in promising areas of the Navoi region.
In the Namangan region, a joint venture will be established for processing silver-containing ore, with processing facilities to be built based on the deposit in the Pap region. Sur Gold and Silver Project will be the partner in this initiative.
Collaboration with NEQSOL Holding in the field of REMs will cover the Navoi, Tashkent, and Jizzakh regions. This partnership is a continuation of a broader agreement signed in June at the Tashkent Investment Forum, which involves the joint extraction of strategic minerals, including titanium.
Additionally, the Azerbaijani state oil and gas company SOCAR will undertake exploratory works as part of the ‘Ustyurt’ project, which encompasses six blocks: Terengkuduk, Boyterak, Birkori, Kharoy, Kulboy, and Karakalpak, located in Karakalpakstan. This expansion of Azerbaijani companies into Uzbekistan’s mining sector signals a significant step towards enhancing regional cooperation and resource development.
