On October 25-26 of this year, the VII Uzbek-Korean bilateral international seminar on rare metals and the copper industry on the topic “Rare metals and the copper industry” was held at the research and production association for the production of rare metals and hard alloys AMMC.

The seminar, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Mining and Geology, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, and institutes of the Korean state, was attended by leading experts, scientists, professors and industry specialists, and researchers.

The seminar featured lectures and expert presentations on various topics about achievements in this field.

A field trip was organized for the seminar participants, during which the activities of the Uzbek-Korean Scientific and Technological Center and scientific and technical library were presented.

The seminar participants also got acquainted with the types of products obtained through deep processing of copper and rare metals, the production of which was mastered as a result of the integration of science into production.

It was noted that as a result of cooperation with Korean institutes, experimental research work carried out at the Uzbek-Korean Scientific and Technological Center, the production of promising products from rare metals and hard alloys has been established. For example, functional gradient materials, high-temperature heat-conducting materials, targets for sputtering, functional coatings for hardening and cutting tools, contacts for electrical equipment, drilling tools.

Kim Bum Seong, a representative of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and the ODA program in Uzbekistan, said that the seminar was very useful for both parties. During the seminar, a number of our projects implemented in cooperation were noted. This association of scientists and specialists made a positive impression on him. The seminar was very useful for both parties.

Head of the training center Doniyor Karimov: - As part of this seminar, Korean scientists, in collaboration with the training center, conducted a special training seminar and master classes for young scientists and engineers. Students organized a reporting poster exhibition. An internship is planned for 10 young specialists from the plant in Korea in 2024.

Coordinator of the Uzbek-Korean program on rare metals Amir Obidov: “The main purpose of the seminar was to discuss between Uzbek and Korean scientists innovative and scientific developments in the field of rare earth metals and the copper industry, as well as the introduction of technologies that will be used in the future.”

The activities of the scientific and technological center were highly appreciated by Korean scientists. Since the center demonstrates a high rate of implementation of innovative developments. By September 2023, more than 70 experiments have been conducted. Many developments have been put into production. For example, the production of ferromolybdenum from technological waste using an unconventional method has been established. In addition, alloys and copper composites are produced. At the experimental processing plant of our innovation center, various experiments were carried out and manuals were developed on the technologies of the copper processing plant-3 under construction and the copper processing plant-4 planned for construction. It is noteworthy that the Ingichkinsky enrichment plant has mastered the technology of producing 55% tungsten concentrate from tungsten waste. Today, work is underway to extract useful elements from technogenic waste and acidic waters.

Deputy Director of the NPO Ulugbek Ruziev: “The recently built experimental tungsten and molybdenum hydrometallurgical plant aroused great interest among guests from Korea. Korean scientists noted that this is important for the application of pilot technologies in the semiconductor industry for the extraction of high-purity tungsten and molybdenum. The important important role of this workshop in expanding scientific research within the framework of the ODA program is also emphasized.”

Let us add that on December 25, 2022, the National Assembly of Korea decided to allocate a grant in the amount of 15 billion won (about 12 million US dollars) to the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex in accordance with the ODA program. A meeting of the Joint ODA Program Committee was also held as part of the seminar. In it, a protocol was signed on the approval of the directions established in the program and the commercialization of developments. By the end of 2023, equipment worth about 750,000 US dollars will be installed in the experimental workshop of the Uzbek-Korean Science and Technology Center.

The program also included the processing of rare metals - tungsten, molybdenum, tellurium, selenium, rhenium, osmium - to obtain pure metals for the semiconductor industry, the application of hard rod coatings to carbide equipment, and the establishment of oxygen-free copper production for the semiconductor industry.