BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Uzbekistan's
Uzmetkombinat is exploring a new blast furnace and the development
of several iron ore deposits in cooperation with China's SINO STEEL
Engineering & Research Incorporation Limited as the steelmaker
seeks to expand production capacity and strengthen its raw-material
base.
This was reflected in the statement by the Uzmetkombinat
following strategic talks between a delegation from Uzmetkombinat
led by Chairman of the Management Board Bahodir Abdullaev and the
management of SINO STEEL Engineering & Research Incorporation
Limited during the Uzbek company's business trip to China.
The discussions focused on increasing Uzmetkombinat's production
capacity, introducing advanced engineering and technological
solutions, improving manufacturing processes and developing new
industrial facilities.
A key project under consideration is the construction of a new
blast furnace at Uzmetkombinat. The parties also discussed
geological exploration, drilling and potential industrial
development of the Tebinbulak, Temirkan and Zakar-Chuyan
deposits.
"The talks represent an important step toward advancing major
strategic projects aimed at strengthening Uzmetkombinat's
raw-material base, increasing its technological capacity and
creating new metallurgical production facilities," the company
said.
The development of domestic mineral resources could be
particularly important for Uzmetkombinat as it seeks to expand
steel production and reduce constraints related to the availability
of raw materials. Developing the Tebinbulak, Temirkan and
Zakar-Chuyan deposits would potentially provide the company with
additional sources of iron ore and other mineral resources needed
to support future production.
At the same time, the proposed blast furnace would represent an
expansion of Uzbekistan's metallurgical capacity and could enable
greater volumes of steel production if the necessary raw-material
and infrastructure requirements are secured.
The talks with SINO STEEL also reflect Uzmetkombinat's broader
strategy of attracting international engineering expertise and
advanced technologies as part of its ongoing transformation.
The sides discussed the technical aspects of the proposed
projects and prospects for moving cooperation toward practical
implementation. Further work is expected to focus on geological
studies, engineering solutions and the assessment of the projects'
industrial potential.
