Uzbekistan's Metallurgical Industry Set to Build a Full Production Value Chain

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyevhas announced plans to establish a complete metallurgical production value chain in the country. Speaking at a meeting on the development of the ferrous metallurgy sector, the President stated that the new industrial framework will encompass the entire production cycle—from geological exploration and raw material extraction to the manufacture of finished steel products.

During the meeting, President Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan possesses an estimated 1.5 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves. Agreements have already been reached with Chinese partners, under which 650,000 tonnes of ore from the Surun-Ota deposit are scheduled for delivery starting in 2027. In the coming years, the Tebinbulak mining project is expected to be commissioned, enabling annual steel production of 1 million tonnes. In addition, a memorandum has been signed for the purchase of 700,000 tonnes of iron ore from Tajikistan.

Major private companies in Uzbekistan are also planning significant investments in mining projects. A company based in Samarkand is prepared to invest up to USD 500 million in developing an iron ore deposit, while the BekabadMetallurgical Plant has expressed interest in developing the Temirkon deposit, which holds estimated reserves of 32 million tonnes.

The President also instructed the government to establish a dedicated company with USD 200 million in capital to centrally manage raw material imports. Imported raw materials will be sold exclusively through the commodity exchange. In addition, relevant authorities have been tasked with using artificial intelligence to assess promising mineral deposits and to present a comprehensive geological development program within one month. The government was also instructed to encourage greater participation of major private investors in the development of mineral resources.