Dear workers of Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, dear veterans of production, Almalyk citizens!

The passing year of 2023 was a landmark year for our country and all citizens of Uzbekistan. It will be remembered for two significant, I would even say, fundamental events: the nationwide adoption of the New Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, amendments and additions to which were made with the active participation of the general public - you and me, and the election of the Head of State, during which the incumbent President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected to this post by an overwhelming majority of votes.

Analyzing and summarizing the results of the outgoing year, I can confidently say that 2023 was mostly successful, fruitful and meaningful for us.

Thus, the labor collective of JSC “Almalyk MMC” in 2023 produced commodity products in current prices for 31.4 trillion soums, fulfillment of the forecast - 105.1%, the growth rate of this indicator was 102.8%. During the year we produced 148.5 thousand tons of copper, continued work on production and sale of zinc, cadmium, tungsten trioxide, technical tellurium and selenium, sulfuric acid, copper sulfate, palladium powder, rhenium, at the zinc plant almost 100 kilograms of cadmium oxide were obtained in a semi-industrial way. The enterprises continue to replace outdated equipment, switch to automated process control, actively introduce IT-technologies, master new types of products, and increasingly implement the Localization Program, which was almost doubled this year and has already made an excellent start for next year.

Many indicators were met ahead of schedule. Among them is the forecast for product exports, which totaled $657.7 million, or 101.9% of the forecast.

We have already reached the finish line of the construction of Copper Concentrator No. 3, the first stage of which is ready for commissioning in the near future, we have already tested ore delivery from the mine site to the plant using cyclic-flow technology, and we have started implementing projects for the construction of a new copper complex and CC No. 4. Recently, the first digital substation in Central Asia was put into operation, which will meet the needs not only of new and operating facilities of the plant, but also will send energy to the centralized power supply system of the country. Water supply facilities of the new enterprises are practically completed and ready for operation.

This year the work on calculation of reserves of the combined deposit “Oliy Ziyo” (“Kalmakyr” and “Yoshlik I” areas) and other deposits developed by AMMC in accordance with the JORC Code was completed.  And, it should be noted that the results of these studies also aroused great interest in the world, because they confirmed the leading positions of AMMC in many indicators of mineral content in ore.

The new tasks we set for ourselves require a new approach to their solution. And this requires highly professional staff. Today specialists for AMMC are trained not only by specialized universities of the republic, but also by leading educational institutions of neighboring and foreign countries. For example, we have established fruitful cooperation with Freiberg Mining Academy.

Summarizing the results of the year, I would like to highlight the implementation of social projects by Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex. This year, declared the Year of Care for People and Quality Education, was a significant year for us in a number of ways. Despite the colossal financial flows we channeled into production and construction of new facilities, we tried to maintain almost in full all obligations to our employees, their family members and production veterans stipulated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

We commissioned after major repairs and reconstruction two health care facilities - the medical and sanitary unit of AMMC and the interdistrict perinatal center, each of which was equipped with modern medical equipment. Much work was done to reconstruct the Chatkal House of Culture in Krasnogorsk settlement. Every year the Complex overhauls one of the kindergartens on its balance sheet. This time it became preschool educational establishment No. 33 “Skazka”.

The work on creation of decent conditions for workers continued. In several subdivisions, repair works were completed in cabins and showers, canteens opened their doors after the overhaul, and the workrooms, sanitary facilities, and meal rooms were repaired.

In spite of such significant expenses, this year the Works, along with regular payment of wages with incentives for length of service and bonuses based on the results of fulfillment of forecast indicators, has found an opportunity to increase wages to workers, several times to financially encourage the whole team. We will continue to use every opportunity to improve the welfare of our employees, who not only work diligently at their workplaces, but also take an active part in government programs. Thus, in the course of activities under the “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”) program, the Works planted several hundred thousand trees of various species. At the same time, we paid great attention to the planting of new facilities and, in particular, CC-3 and its infrastructure.

Next year will be no less intense for the labor collective of Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, as well as the subdivisions will face the tasks on fulfillment of forecast indicators, economy, reconstruction and modernization, automation of production. Work on investment projects will also continue. All this will require from each of us at our workplace full dedication, which is impossible without an honest and conscientious attitude to labor. I am sure that it will be so, and we will honorably cope with all the tasks set before us by our Motherland. After all, at AMMC we have a team of professionals capable of solving any production issues.

And now, on the eve of the New Year, I sincerely thank you all for your labor, for your interest in the final result of our work!

Happy upcoming 2024 to all of you! May it be better, more interesting, more fruitful! May more bright and joyful events happen in everyone’s family! May dreams come true and goals be achieved!

Health to all of us, peace, happiness and prosperity! May our sovereign multinational country continue to prosper!

Abdulla KHURSANOV,

Chairman of the Board of JSC AMMC,

senator of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan