Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug.16 /Trend D.Azizov/
The Uzbek Heat Resistant and Refractory Materials Integrated Plant plans to increase metal tungsten production in 2012 by 1.8 times.
Since early 2012, the plant mastered the production of five new headings, including tips for connecting wires and cables of electrical networks, carbide drill bits, antifriction and constructional products from materials based on iron powder within the framework of the localization.
It is planned to master the products for the automobile industry in 2012
The primary task of the plant is to search for additional sources of raw material, recycled material in a variety of waste containing molybdenum.
In early 2006, the Uzbek government has approved a program to develop tungsten deposits.
As reported, in August 2011, the Korean Shindong Resources Co Ltd and Uzbek State Geology Committee signed an agreement on establishing a joint venture Uzbekistan-Korea Tungsten to develop Sautbay tungsten deposit in Navoi region, investments are estimated at $120 million.
In 2012-2013, the joint venture will conduct geological exploration of the deposit deposits and build a concentrating complex with design capacity of 1,599 tons of enriched tungsten concentrate a year.
To date, proven industrial reserves of Sautbay deposit total four million tons of ore containing tungsten trioxide in the amount of 19,900 tons.
Audit of ore and mineral resources reserves according to international standards (Codex JORC) is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2014. Until 2013 the Sautbay deposit is planned to be commissioned for industrial development with an annual production capacity of 1,260 tons.
In addition, the program of development of mineral resources of the country's tungsten deposits for the period until 2014, providing for bringing the production of tungsten concentrate to 2,700 tons, provided, inter alia, the construction of mining and processing complex with the development of the North site of Yakhton field in the Samarkand region.
It is expected that as a result of the program implementation full capacity utilization for the production of the plant for tungsten production will be ensured from 2014.
The plant was commissioned in 1956. During the Soviet era the plant worked for the defense industry and produced hard alloys, powders and rolled metal of molybdenum and tungsten. Currently, raw material for production of molybdenum products is provided by Almalyk Mining and Metallurgy Complex and raw materials for tungsten products are imported from Russia on the basis of goods made on commission. The capacity of the plant are loaded only for 20 percent.