COMMENTARY 

Article by Abdulla Khursanov, Chairman of the Board of “Olmaliq Mining and Metallurgical Combine” JSC, published in issue No. 215 of the "Yangi O'zbekiston" newspaper.

Our President Shavkat Mirziyoev visited the Olmaliq Mining and Metallurgical Combine during his trip to Tashkent Region on October 14-15 of this year. He closely examined the school for training engineers for the industrial sector, the development of the “Yoshlik-1” mine, and the final stages of the construction of the 3rd copper enrichment plant, and he launched the construction of the 4th copper enrichment plant. This was an unforgettable event in the history of Olmaliq city and the combine.

The visit of our state leader began with an introduction to the activities of the Engineering School. Here, particular attention is paid to enhancing the knowledge and skills of specialists based on modern technologies, and the educational process is implemented in a dual system, ensuring harmony between theory and production. 

Only skilled professionals—well-rounded engineers and technical staff who have thoroughly mastered modern advanced technologies—can define the development of any industrial enterprise. The Engineering School established at the Olmaliq Mining and Metallurgical Combine is dedicated to training precisely such professional engineers and technical personnel. 

The school’s activities are based on the experiences of major companies in Europe’s copper industry. In particular, the methodology for retraining and educating specialists was modeled after the training center of Germany’s “Aurubis” AG company.

At the Engineering School, specialists are being trained in a range of critical disciplines, including geology, mining operations, transportation within the mining sector, surveying, mineral processing, metallurgy, mechanics, energy, and production automation. 

The curriculum has been meticulously crafted and implemented by drawing on the educational standards set forth by esteemed institutions such as Germany's Freiberg Mining Academy and the training frameworks established by “Aurubis” AG and “GP Günter Papenburg” AG. 

During the visit, our President underscored the transformative nature of the times we live in, marked by the influx of innovations and the imperative for the combine's future to be intrinsically linked to digitalization. He accentuated the urgent need to digitize every department and each phase of production, signaling a commitment to embracing the future of industry in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

At the Olmaliq Mining and Metallurgical Combine, over 70 projects have been implemented under the “Digital OKMK — 2030” strategy. This year, the Smelting Plant and the second copper enrichment factory underwent a complete overhaul of their mnemonics (SCADA) systems. To optimize ore level distribution in the second copper enrichment factory, four laser sensors and modern scales were installed in the bunkers. This setup has enabled telemonitoring and ensured a uniform supply of ore to the milling bunkers.

In a bid to enhance information security, a system for managing device connections to the corporate network (NAC) has been implemented, resulting in centralized oversight of all users and devices.

Moreover, within the framework of the mining and transport management system at the “Qalmoqqir” and “Yoshlik-1” mines, eight server devices have been installed at the data processing center, increasing the data storage capacity to 290 TB.

During the visit of our nation's leader, he also reviewed the ongoing work related to the “Development of the Yoshlik-1 Mine” project. Since the project's inception, 200 million cubic meters of surface area have been excavated at the mine. Currently, the mine stretches 3.7 kilometers in length, 2.3 kilometers in width, and reaches a depth of 260 meters. A railway measuring 41.6 kilometers has been laid and electrified, supporting the operation of 400 pieces of machinery.

Additionally, a continuous flow conveyor system spanning 4.2 kilometers has been prepared to transport ore to the factory's raw material warehouse. The conveyor line operates at a transportation speed of 4 meters per second. The implementation of this conveyor system is expected to reduce transportation costs by at least 30%.

Another significant aspect is that massive dump trucks with a lifting capacity of 240 tons, intended for use at the Yoshlik-1 mine, are being assembled at “Nurafshon-maxsus-texnika” LLC in Nurafshon city as part of the localization program.

Undoubtedly, the rapid development of the Yoshlik-1 mine is driven by the favorable conditions created by our government and thorough technological preparation.

Moreover, the nation's leader familiarized himself with the current progress at the 3rd copper enrichment plant, where construction work began in 2021. Despite the challenging global situation, this major factory is on the brink of successful completion.

This factory, designed to process 60 million tons of ore annually, is set to make a substantial contribution to the economy of our country. As our President inaugurated the construction of a new 4th copper enrichment plant as part of these megaprojects, he expressed confidence that these monumental reforms would continue to foster the development of our nation and enhance the well-being of our people.

Within the framework of new projects, specialists from the combine have traveled to leading companies in Chile, Peru, Europe, and China to enhance their knowledge and skills. Our experts familiarized themselves with the operations of dozens of copper smelting plants and enrichment factories in China and learned from the experiences of enrichment facilities in Chile and Peru.

The new factory will be equipped with state-of-the-art technological equipment sourced from leading companies around the world. A sophisticated combination of gravity and flotation methods has been chosen to effectively and efficiently separate copper and rare metal components from the ore.

The construction of the 4th copper enrichment plant will enable us to increase ore extraction and processing to 120 million tons annually, establishing us as one of the largest enterprises in the world. The project involves the collaboration of Italy’s “Wood” and Britain’s “Worley Parsons” companies. It is stipulated that high-tech, environmentally safe, and cost-effective technologies will be employed in production.

The establishment of these new industrial facilities is of significant importance for improving the infrastructure of the city of Olmaliq and its surrounding areas, contributing to the enhancement of the population's well-being.

Over the past six years, the Olmaliq Mining and Metallurgy Combine has seen its industrial output grow by 1.8 times, local production increase by 7.7 times, and investment absorption surge by 13 times.

Our state leader has placed great trust in us. In turn, our team has begun to diligently tackle the tasks assigned to us. Indeed, the execution of these important assignments serves the well-being of the people. Therefore, in alignment with this priority policy, we see the establishment of new production sectors and the creation of jobs as our primary goal, dedicating all our strength and resources to ensure the prosperity of our people.