Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec 21 / Trend D.Azizov /
Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine has completed the second phase of building mining plant in the Zarmitan field (Samarkand region) with total cost of $190 million, the combine's representative told Trend.
It was previously reported that the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine has been gradually implementing the project since 2007 to develop the Zarmitan zone. The total project cost is $324 million.
The project includes constructing a mining complex based on fields of Zarmitan gold ore zone, including expanding a mine on the Zarmitan field, constructing mines in the Guzhumsay and Promejutochnoye fields, as well as a gold prospecting unit with annual capacity of around 10 tons of gold.
Implementation of the project is planned in three phases.
During the first phase, the implementation which was completed last year, Zarmitan mine was expanded and a mine was built in Guzhumsay field providing processing of one million tons of ore.
Construction of a gold prospecting unit (HMP-4 hydrometallurgical plant) worth $114.6 million in the Zarmitan field was also completed within the first phase.
Exploration was carried out in Guzhumsay underground mine and production lines for gravitational extraction of fine gold were modernised at hydrometallurgical plant-4 (HMP-4) within the second stage which will allow to boost ore processing at the complex from one to 1.4 million tons of ore a year, the agency's interlocutor said.
It is planned to complete the third construction phase of the entire complex with a design capacity of 1.8 million tons per year in 2013 and to bring to full capacity till late 2015.
The project is financed from its own funds of the combine and Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan.
According to the Uzbek State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources, the Zarmitan and Guzhumsay deposits have 20 million tons of ore with an average grade of 10 grams per ton.
According to the preliminary data, gold extracted from the Zarmitan gold zone will hit about 10 tons.
Navoi Mining is one of the major gold producers in Central Asia. The plant is fully owned by the state. The main gold-ore base of the enterprise is the Muruntau field (Central Kyzyl Kum). The plant includes two gold extracting plants - GMZ-2 in Zeravshan and GMZ-3 in Uchkuduk. NMMC is the exclusive operator for the extraction, enrichment and export of uranium in Uzbekistan.