Gold mining and processing cluster to be established in Karakalpakstan

The head of state noted that geological exploration has covered only 20% of the region's territory, leaving insufficient data on mineral reserves amid growing interest from major investors. As an example, he cited a Chinese investor's project at the Urusoy deposit in the Karauzyak district. By investing $33 million and technologies, the company identified 4 tonnes of gold reserves across a 200-hectare area and provided jobs for 320 people.

The president instructed officials to resolve within one month the issues raised by investors, organize the cluster, prepare a comprehensive geological exploration program, and reassess the reserves of the region's deposits.

In addition, deep processing of raw materials was discussed at the meeting. According to authorities' estimates, processing mirabilite at the Kuskanatau deposit in the Bozatau district will enable the production of up to 45,000 tonnes of sodium sulfate annually, while processing astrakanite will yield magnesium sulfate. An investment project of $30 million by a German company was also reported to develop a quartzite deposit in the Beruniy district to produce crystalline silicon with annual exports worth $25 million. Officials in charge of the chemical industry were tasked with adding new initiatives worth $200 million to previously planned $400 million projects, creating 5,000 jobs.