28.06.2021

On June 28, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on the further development of copper production and the creation of the industrial cluster.

Over the past 5 years, the copper production in the country has increased to nearly 1,5 times and in 2020 reached 148 thousand tons. Nevertheless, the work on the production of products with high added value is insufficient. In particular, about 60% of copper is exported as raw materials.

According to international experts, the global copper demand is expected to grow by 40% by 2030 due to increase in the production of electric vehicles, electrical engineering and the development of renewable energy sources.

Uzbekistan’s revenues from the copper industry currently amount to $2,5 billion. If copper production increases to 400 thousand tons in the next 5 years, this figure, taking into account the related sectors, can reach 7-8 billion dollars.

To this end, on June 24, a Presidential Decree on additional measures for the development of the mining and metallurgical industry and related industries was adopted. The resolution defined the creation of a cluster of the copper industry and formed a special commission headed by the Prime Minister.

The meeting has outlined measures on implementation of this strategic task.

First, the importance of developing a five-year program for expanding exploration for non-ferrous and rare metals was emphasized.

The task is to create a modern design institute with the involvement of high-profile international companies for the development of design and engineering services in this area.

It was noted that in our country it is necessary to establish the production and maintenance of mining equipment and tools.

It is indicated that certain activities at the plants, such as road transport services, digitalization, can be transferred to the private sector through cooperation and outsourcing.

It is necessary to expand the production of high-value-added products such as metal alloys in NGOs of rare metals and hard alloys, household appliances, computers, batteries, electric vehicle components at «Uzeltehsanoat» enterprises.

The Ministry of Innovative Development is instructed to work out the concept of development of industry enterprises in close connection with research and applied innovation. The importance of training technological engineers with higher education and workers for each section of the cluster was noted. The importance of establishing cooperation with high-profile foreign educational institutions for this purpose was emphasized.

It was instructed to form a group of qualified specialists and study foreign experience in organizing a cluster of the copper industry, determine strategic directions for the development of geology, mining and metallurgical industry with the involvement of international companies.