Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex is a large chain of various industries: from ore mining to the production of finished products. The existing technology is complex, therefore, in order to further develop it, the Complex establishes mutually beneficial cooperation with leading enterprises in the world.

This year alone, Almalyk MMC JSC was visited by delegations from countries such as Germany, Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Finland, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. And the other day, on September 6, representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited AMMC.

First, the guests received detailed information about the history of one of the largest mines in the world - Kalmakyr, its reserves, mining and transportation of ore, and plans for the future.

The next point of the excursion was a copper smelter, where members of the delegation became acquainted with the technology for the production of non-ferrous and rare metals.

The main purpose of the visit of the Japanese delegation is to establish cooperation in the direction of reducing the cost of hydrogen production from steam and photocatalysis, as well as the involvement of raw materials from depleted hydrocarbon deposits.

For scientists at Kyushu University, Uzbekistan, where there are more than 246 days of sunshine a year, offers ample opportunities for research: in particular, the slag from the AMMC copper smelter has attracted interest as a raw material. Metallurgical waste can be used as fayalite raw material in the production of photocatalysts for hydrogen production.

For information: the main activity of scientists at Kyushu University is the production of hydrogen by alternative methods, the production of rare metals necessary for various industries, and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

To implement these projects, sustainable development, promoting international research aimed at solving global problems, JICA jointly funds the Japanese government's SATREPS program with the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

A meeting was also held during which the technology used for hydrogen production at NPO PRMiTS and proposed by scientists from Kyushu University were discussed. The Complex's specialists and guests exchanged views on this matter. In addition, the JICA management discussed the issue of increasing the number of quotas in Japanese universities to improve the qualifications of the Complex’s specialists.

In connection with the interest shown by Kyushu professors in the production of hydrogen at AMMC, a visit to NPO PRMiTS was also organized for the guests.