Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 24 / Trend D. Azizov /
A group of enterprises "Western-Ural Machine Building Concern" extracted the first ton of ore sylvinite in Tyubetagan deposit of potassium salts in Dehkanabad (Kashkadarya region, south of Uzbekistan), Uzhimprom state joint-stock company reported.
An interlocutor of the agency said the concern has recently completed construction of the first shaft mine in this field.
In 2007, the concern won the tender for the design, construction and equipping of the first stage of potash mine at Tyubegatan deposits of potassium salts, the total explored reserves are estimated at 400.2 million tonnes of ore with a content of potassium chloride of 36.8 percent.
The concern also participates in a tender for complex construction of the second potash mine and ore-concentrating plant with total investment of more than $140 million.
In early 2008, Uzhimprom signed the contracts worth 99.9 million with the concern and Chinese CITIC Pacific Ltd. The contracts were concluded on turnkey construction of Dehkanabad potash fertilizer plant worth $123.67 million on the basis of Tyubetagan field.
The contract was signed with the Chinese company to construct a processing complex to the amount of $43.9 million.
The contract was also signed with Russian company to construct the mining complex to the amount of $56 million.
It is assumed that the concern will build a mining complex worth $48 million, Citic - the processing complex worth $37 million. Uzhimprom will build transportation system of raw materials.
The construction project will be financed from loans of the Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction and Development to the amount of $61,9 million, the Chinese Eximbank - $41,7 million and own funds of Uzhimprom.
The plant is planned to be put into operation in July 2010.
The design capacity of the plant will hit 200,000 tons per year.
Since the second half of next year the plant will start to supply fertilizers to local consumers and for export. It is assumed that fertilizers will be supplied to the countries of Central Asia and China up to 90,000 tons per year.
At present, potash fertilizers are not produced in Uzbekistan and fully imported, mainly from Russia.