The information service of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex organized today a press tour and press conference on the topic “AMMC: Implementation of a megaproject - a new metallurgical complex.”

Representatives of local, republican and foreign media took part in these events.

During the press conference, a presentation of a new metallurgical complex being built as part of the investment project “Development of the Yoshlik I deposit” took place.

Chairman of the Board of “Almalyk MMC” JSC Abdulla Khursanov: “Currently, the Concept for the development of the complex until 2030 has been approved and is being implemented, the investment portfolio of which is estimated at 15.0 billion US dollars. Within the framework of this Concept, the development of the “Yoshlik I” deposit and the construction of copper concentration plant No. 3 are underway. Work has also begun on the design and construction of a new metallurgical complex. This project is one of the largest investment projects in the history of Uzbekistan. As a result of its implementation, it is expected to increase the production capacity of the plant several times. This, in turn, will serve to increase the gross domestic product of the republic. Also, as a result of the project, copper production capacity will double. It is important to emphasize that as a result of the launch of the new complex, the level of gas emissions purification will increase by 30%. The relevance of the implementation of this project lies in the fact that the cathode copper produced by the plant is the main raw material for enterprises in the electrical industry of Uzbekistan. An increase in copper cathode production capacity will also contribute to an increase in production volumes of finished copper products. Thanks to this, the processing of copper raw materials in the republic and the production of new types of copper products with high added value will be established.”

As noted by Obid Jansaidov, Deputy Head of the Investment Department of AMMC, the annual production capacity of the copper smelter is 148.5 thousand tons of copper cathode. The existing capacity to extract this metal from the concentrate that will be produced at copper processing plant No. 3 will not be enough. Considering this fact, much attention is paid to expanding production capacity through the construction of a metallurgical complex.

Also, given that the demand for sulfuric acid in the republic is currently 1.8-1.9 million tons per year, the relevance of this project becomes obvious. Sulfuric acid is the main raw material for enterprises producing mineral fertilizers. Currently, these enterprises require an average of 1 million tons of sulfuric acid per year.

It is also worth noting separately that the production volume of gold (1.7 times) and silver (1.3 times) will also increase. This, in turn, will serve to increase gold and foreign exchange reserves and develop the jewelry industry of our country. Precious metals – gold and silver – obtained from copper concentrates will serve to increase the gold and foreign exchange reserves of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the development of the domestic jewelry industry.

A leading independent consulting company, HATCH (Canada), was hired to implement the project. A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new metallurgical complex has been developed that meets international requirements.

The first stage of developing the initial feasibility study examined advanced copper smelting and converting technologies. “Flash Smelting-Flash Converting” was chosen as the optimal technology.

According to data provided by HATCH, Lurec technology is considered the most advanced technology for the production of sulfuric acid. Complex specialists approved the proposal to use this technology.

Basic engineering for the construction of a new metallurgical complex was developed by the licensor of the “Flash Smelting – Flash Converting” technology, the Finnish company Metso.

As part of basic engineering, the main objects of the metallurgical complex were designed: copper smelting units, sulfuric acid shop, copper electrolysis shop, slag enrichment plant, warehouse for concentrate storage and preparation. A master plan for the enterprise has been developed. The main technological solutions have been identified.

It is worth noting that as a result of the implementation of this project, new jobs will be created.

The next point of visit for the press tour participants was the copper concentrator-3, which is under construction.

Currently, as part of the development of the “Yoshlik I” deposit and the construction of copper processing plant No. 3, the “Yoshlik I” mine (60 million tons of ore per year) is prepared for ore mining. 183 million cubic meters of stripping work were completed. Today the mine is 4.0 km long, 3.5 km wide and 90 meters deep. A distinctive feature of the new plant is that the ore undergoes the first stage of crushing in the mine itself - through a crushing and loading plant. 23 thousand builders and more than 500 units of special equipment are working on the construction of the facility.

Next, the participants of the press tour got acquainted with the activities of the “Tukket” digital transformer substation, which was put into operation at the end of last year.

It is noteworthy that this substation, built to supply power to the copper concentration plant-3, as well as the “Kalmakyr” and “Yoshlik” mines, is currently the only one not only in Central Asia, but also in the CIS countries.

During the press tour, media representatives received detailed information about the progress of the project - a new metallurgical complex.