30 Mar 2010 16:13

Western Ural Machine Building to complete Uzbek mining complex in April

PERM. March 30 (Interfax) - Western Ural Machine Building Group (ZUMK) plans to complete work on the mining complex at the Tyubegatansky potassium salts deposit in Uzbekistan's Kashkadarya region at the beginning of April, the company reported.

By the end of April the mine will produce a planned 4,000 tonnes of potassium salts.

ZUMK has completed rigging the shafts and installing ventilation systems. It is now working to complete the complex on the surface. Once Chinese CITIC Pacific Ltd completes construction of the ore processing plant in the third quarter, the entire first phase of the complex will be completed.

It was reported earlier that Uzkhimprom plans to begin operating the Dekhkanabad potash plant in Kashkadarya region in July 2010. The $123.67-million plant will produce 200,000 tonnes of output a year. The plant will begin deliveries to domestic customers and exports in the second half of 2010.

The plant is being built at the Tyubegatansky deposit on the border with Turkmenistan, which contains 400.2 million tonnes of ore with potassium chloride content equal to 36.8%. The portion of the deposit located in Uzbekistan contains 200 million tonnes of ore.

Uzbekistan currently imports all the potash fertilizer it uses, mainly from Russia.

ZUMK Group produces mining equipment, hoisting and conveying equipment, and equipment for the oil and gas industry. It has assets in Perm territory and Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions.