At a time when global industry is gaining strength from new resources, tungsten is being valued as the "energy currency" of the global economy. Tungsten is a strategic metal of the future, highly important for energy, green technologies, mechanical engineering, aviation, automotive, chemical industries, and space technologies. Currently, the Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex (TMK ), established on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is implementing comprehensive projects aimed at positioning the country as a reliable partner in the global tungsten arena through advanced technologies and integrated production models in the tungsten industry.
In particular, this year TMK became the first plant in Central Asia to become a full member of the International Tungsten Association. This membership has allowed for close cooperation with leading global manufacturers and research centers, enabling the utilization of modern technological trends and international standards.
Today, TMK is actively working at all stages of the tungsten chain - upstream, midstream, and downstream.
As part of the upstream stage, TMK is carrying out geological exploration work for the development of the Sarikul tungsten deposit in the Nurabad district of the Samarkand region, accelerating the processing of technogenic waste at the Ingichka deposit in the city of Kattakurgan, as well as at the Sautbay site in the Uchkuduk district of the Navoi region. TMK is also implementing joint projects with international companies for the enrichment and processing of tungsten concentrates.
In particular, the project for the development of the Sarikul tungsten deposit is a unique and priority project implemented by TMK, with total industrial reserves, including promising areas, amounting to 30 thousand tons of tungsten metal. The production complex will have a processing capacity of up to 1 million tons of ore per year. As a result, tungsten concentrate will be obtained that fully meets 65 percent of international quality standards. The annual production volume will be 4 thousand tons. Taking into account the prospective areas, the operating life of the deposit is estimated at up to 20 years. Within the framework of the project, more than 400 specialists and representatives of the local population will be provided with stable jobs. That is, TMK also aims to invest in human capital, job creation, and local development through its projects.
In order to expand the volume of tungsten waste processing, a project is being implemented at the Ingichka Enrichment Plant in cooperation with the Chinese company Xinhai. As a result of this project, tungsten concentrate production will increase to 817 tons, then to 1050 tons, with the product value reaching $18.4 million and generating a net profit of $4.1 million. Consequently, tax payments are expected to reach $700,000 in 2026 and $1.4 million by 2028.
Furthermore, as part of the ongoing modernization work at the Ingichka mine, TMK is implementing new technological lines in partnership with the foreign investor, Chinese company "Red Persimmon." This will increase the annual tungsten ore extraction volume to 900 thousand tons. As a result of restoring mining operations, the production of 1,671 tons of tungsten concentrate per year will be ensured, with plans to subsequently increase production capacity to 5,040 tons. Additionally, TMK is implementing a project to develop the Sautbay tungsten deposit in collaboration with the Turkish company "International Gold Madencilik Ltd. Şirketi." Once the mine becomes operational, it will produce 4,811 tons of tungsten concentrate.
As a result of collaborative efforts, tungsten concentrates are subsequently delivered to TMK and directed to the process of producing metallic tungsten. Simultaneously, TMK is conducting geological exploration work in accordance with international standards in the promising areas of Tomchali and Karakiya, aiming to expand its raw material potential and commission new deposits. Additionally, with the participation of foreign and private investors, geological surveys are consistently ongoing in the Saritau area of the Uchkuduk district in Navoi region, the Khojadig, Yakhton, and Kamangaron areas in Samarkand region, and the Gussay area in Kashkadarya region.
At the Midstream stage, to establish a complete tungsten processing chain in Uzbekistan, the plant plans to construct a new hydrometallurgical workshop in Samarkand region. To develop these modern production facilities, TMK is taking measures to implement best practices through cooperation with leading engineering companies from Canada, Australia, Finland, and Turkey. Once this project is fully operational, it will process 5,000 tons of tungsten concentrate in 2027, 10,000 tons in 2029, and 15,000 tons in 2030, bringing the product value to $307.4 million.
The downstream stage represents the highest point of the value chain, where TMK aims to strengthen the "Made in Uzbekistan" industrial brand in the field of critical minerals on the world stage, transforming the country into a reliable and stable partner for the export of technological metals. Currently, TMK produces tungsten briquettes and ingots, tungsten carbide-based drill bits, hard alloy milling cutters and drills, tungsten electrodes, as well as drilling tools and crowns. The plant is gradually digitalizing and fully automating production processes, utilizing energy-efficient and environmentally safe technologies, and implementing a sustainable industrial model that complies with international ESG and IRMA standards. Through this approach, TMK is processing metal and shaping the future.
Today, high value-added tungsten products manufactured in Uzbekistan are being supplied to leading industrial countries of the world, particularly to prominent companies in Europe and the USA. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to expand export routes to technologically advanced markets such as Japan and Korea.
As a result of the full implementation of new industrial projects, the production volume of tungsten concentrate in the raw material sector will increase from 300 tons to 14,950 tons, which is 50 times higher. In the processing sector, due to the commissioning of hydrometallurgical plants in Samarkand and Tashkent regions (Chirchik city), the production volume of tungsten anhydride will increase from 76 tons to 4,860 tons. In the finished product sector, the production volume of tungsten metal will increase from 58 tons to 1,860 tons.
New tungsten projects will become not only an industrial achievement but also a new growth point for the national economy, yielding high economic efficiency. According to this, the investment value will reach $103.9 million, production volume will grow from today's $5.5 million to nearly $280 million, and export potential will increase from $2.4 million to $181.5 million. Additionally, as a result of launching these projects, more than 5,000 new jobs will be created.
Another crucial aspect is that as a result of the full implementation of these projects, Uzbekistan's global share in the tungsten industry will increase. Reserves will grow from the current 2% to 5.1% by 2030, and in terms of extraction, from 0.05% to 14.8%.
Today, the world is searching for sustainable sources in the tungsten supply chain. Specifically, there is a need for reliable, transparent, and technological solutions. Thanks to our President's strategic and far-sighted policy, Uzbekistan, as an active participant in this process, is offering the global market not only raw materials but also a complete value chain model. The Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex, with its projects aimed at complementing the global tungsten supply chain, seeks to strengthen the country's role as a reliable partner for the global industry and solidify its position on the global industrial map.
