On March 27 this year, a press conference on the topic “The main areas of activity of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant: results of 2023 and tasks set for 2024” was held at the National Press Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan, organized by the information service of the plant.

It was attended by Acting Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC “Almalyk MMC” for digitalization Ravshan Maksumov, Deputy Chief Engineer for technology Abdukakhhor Sainazarov and representatives of the media.

Abdukakhhor Sainazarov: “The workforce of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex completed 2023 fruitfully. In particular, the plant produced industrial products worth 31.7 trillion soums. Investment projects worth 1,128.2 million US dollars were implemented, products worth 661.9 million US dollars were exported. Under the Localization Program, products were manufactured for 429.0 billion soums. As for the issues of reducing the cost of production, a result of 404.7 billion soums was noted in this direction. Payments in the amount of 14.95 trillion soums were made to the state budget. The plant’s net profit amounted to 6.7 trillion soums. Geological exploration work was carried out for 163.5 billion soums. Investment projects are also being successfully implemented at AMMC. In particular, the construction of 6 facilities of the mining complex of the “Yoshlik I” project, 6 facilities of the Copper Concentrator No. 3 have been completed. Preliminary design work on the construction of a new metallurgical complex has begun. In 2024, work in these areas will be accelerated. Thus, it is planned to produce industrial products worth 32.2 trillion soums, implement investment projects worth 2,136.4 million US dollars, and produce localized products worth 1,016.6 billion soums. In addition, it is planned to make payments to the state budget in the amount of 15.73 trillion soums.”

During the event, Ravshan Maksumov spoke in detail about the work within the framework of the digitalization of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex.

The concept of “Digital AMMC-2030” is aimed at the digitalization of all production and business processes of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, data collection and analysis, and prompt decision-making. In this direction, 34 projects were implemented in 2023.

In particular, as part of the automation of production processes and the implementation of modern information systems, a number of works were carried out at the copper processing plant, copper smelter, the “Khandiza” mine department and the thermal power plant.

As a result of the work carried out at the copper processing plant in this direction, the degree of copper extraction from ore reached 85%. Also, a diagnostic system for the main devices involved in technological processes (reducing the number of shutdowns due to early warning of accidents), as well as an automation system for the “Ore-Water” process, were launched at the plant as a test. This allows saving 1.8 million cubic meters of water per year.

As part of improving the efficiency of the mining and transport complex and developing the information technology infrastructure at the “Kalmakyr” and “Yoshlik I” mines, the first stage of the mining transport management system was completed, a system for collecting and processing data online on the operation of 99 dump trucks, 20 excavators and 9 drilling rigs was established.

As a result of the digitalization of railway transport operations, costs were reduced by 4.8 billion soums per year.

In 2023, 224 billion soums were saved due to digitalization and optimization of business and technological processes. In 2024, it is planned to implement 18 projects in order to accelerate work in this direction. In particular, the operational management system for the “Kalmakyr” and “Yoshlik I” mines will be completed.

The “Ore-Water” management system will be implemented at the copper processing plant for diagnostics of the main equipment and automatic supply of ore and water to the mills.

The MES system (Manufacturing Execution System) will be launched in order to automate financial, treasury, production and trading activities, as well as business processes through a single ERP system (this will ensure a 3% reduction in production costs and a 2% increase in profits), control and operational management of production in real time. This will increase the equipment efficiency by 5% and reduce unplanned downtime to 15%. Within the framework of the projects for the expansion of the copper concentrator-3 under construction and the expansion of the copper smelter, the prospects for the introduction of fully automated technological process systems have been identified.

The press conference participants received answers to their questions.