Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that a Chinese investor has discovered gold reserves amounting to 4 tons across 200 hectares at the Ursay mine, located in the Karauzyak district of Karakalpakstan. This project received an investment of 33 million US dollars, which covers both the capital outlay and technological support.
During a meeting in Nukus dedicated to the socio-economic development of the region, Mirziyoyev noted that 320 jobs have already been created at this mine. He instructed officials to resolve the issues raised by the investors within one month, as well as to establish a cluster for gold mining and processing with the potential for 1000 jobs.
Furthermore, the president strongly recommended developing a comprehensive geological survey program and conducting a reassessment of mineral reserves across the entire region. Mirziyoyev emphasized that geological surveys have only covered 20% of Karakalpakstan's territory, and that available data on raw material reserves is insufficient given the arrival of major investors.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev also mentioned a German company that invested 30 million dollars in the development of a quartzite deposit in the Beruninsky district. This company plans to produce crystalline silicon, the export of which will amount to 25 million dollars annually, while one ton of crystalline silicon costs 5,500 US dollars on the global market.
Separately, the president addressed the Borsa Kelmas deposit in the Kungrad district, where 1 million tons of technical salt are sold annually without subsequent processing. He also referred to the Kuskanatau deposit in the Bozatau district, where mirabilite can be processed to yield 45,000 tons of sodium sulfate per year, and astrachanite is used to produce magnesium sulfate.