Wedonay.com Report on Mar 19th, The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC) of Uzbekistan recently held an inauguration ceremony for its third copper processing plant in the Almalyk region. The construction of this new copper smelter is a crucial part of the development plan for the Yoshlik-1 deposit, marking a significant enhancement in the country's copper ore processing capacity.

The copper processing plant project, with an investment of $2.7 billion and covering an area of 196 hectares, commenced construction in 2021 and was completed in 2025. The plant employs advanced technological equipment from international companies such as FLSmidth, Weir Minerals, Siemens, and Metso, including flotation machines and grinding systems. The new plant has the capacity to produce 900,000 metric tons of copper concentrate annually, with an annual ore processing capacity of 60 million metric tons. It is expected to significantly increase the output of copper cathodes, gold, silver, and molybdenum, while sulfuric acid production is anticipated to triple, providing key raw materials for uranium mining and the chemical industry.

At the inauguration ceremony, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated to the media, "AMMC has the potential to become one of the world's top three copper production complexes." He emphasized that this project will strengthen the country's industrial base and promote the efficient processing of natural resources.

Once the new copper processing plant reaches full operational capacity, the daily production of copper concentrate at the Almalyk Complex will increase from the current 2,400 tons to 5,000 tons. With the advancement of subsequent projects, such as the fourth copper beneficiation plant, the government estimates that deep processing capacity for copper could reach 240,000 metric tons per year, further solidifying Uzbekistan's position in the copper mining sector.