Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Sept. 9 /Trend, D.Azizov/
Almali Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC, Almalik city, Tashkent region) will speed up the implementation of the project to build a new workshop for producing sulfuric acid at the smelting plant. The project cost is $80.3 million, a source in government circles told Trend on Friday. The project is implemented with the participation of German Outotec GmbH.
"To accelerate the implementation of the project is allowed until the first AMMC April 2012 to carry out construction works for the construction of the sulfuric acid plant on its own with the parallel development of design estimates, perform in-house construction and installation work, acquire at least the development of technical documentation on the internal market in direct contracts with companies producing accessories and components in accordance with the approved feasibility study for the project "- said the source.
"To speed up the implementation of the project, AMMC is allowed to, by April 1, 2012, carry out works for the construction of the sulfuric acid workshop at its own funds with the parallel development of design estimates, conduct construction and installation work, etc.," said the source.
AMMC is also allowed to attract specialized construction and installation and other organizations of the Republic for subcontracting on the basis of direct contracts if necessary.
The materials, equipment and spare parts, including technical and design documents imported as part of the project, are exempt from paying customs duties by July 1, 2014.
In addition, the Head of State exempted Outotec from profit tax.
As reported earlier, the German company signed a contract with the AMMC to design and supply equipment on a turnkey basis for the construction of the new sulfuric acid shop at copper smelting plant with a capacity of 500,000 tons of sulfuric acid per year.
The project will be funded through the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Foundation's loan in the amount of $30 million, loans of Uzbek banks totaling $29 million and AMMC's own funds in the amount of $21.2 million.
The project is scheduled to be implemented by 2014.
The company is the only copper producer in Uzbekistan. It produces refined copper (cathode), metallic zinc, lead concentrate and other products. The share of the combine is about 90 percent of the solver production and 20 percent of gold in the country. The enterprise yields produce valued at more than $300 million a year. The enterprise is specialized in production of refined copper (cathodes), metallic zinc, lead concentrate and other produces. The enterprise exports around 60 percent of its output, including 5 percent as export to CIS states.
The enterprise incorporates two ore mines, two dressing works and two metallurgic plants with their own infrastructure.
The enterprise is authorized to carry out extractive work at copper-molybdenum and lead-zinc mines in the area of town Almalyk (the Tashkent district). The raw material base of the AMSE comprises copper-porphyritic ore mines Kalmakyr and Sari-Cheku (the Tashkent district) and lead-zinc-barite ore mine Uch-Kulach (the Jizak district).
In late 2010, the Uzbek government has authorized Almalyk with the function of exploring for non-ferrous metals and associated minerals in the whole country, as well as additional exploration and operational intelligence about deposits of precious metals, with the formation of the Geology of Non-ferrous Metals Science and Production Center.
Almalyk MMC is exempt from customs duties for the import of equipment, technology and vehicles for exploration until Jan.1, 2017.