News

01.10.2009

Uzbekistan to launch new high-tech production

A new polycrystalline silicon plant will be erected in Navoi free industrial and economic zone (FIEZ) in 2009-2012. It will be built by an Uzbek-Korean joint venture, Uz-Shindong Silicon.
Earlier, the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and South Korea’s Shindong Enercom Inc. have signed a Protocol of Intent on the development of a number of quartzite deposits - raw material base of the silicon industry. In accordance with the document, the South Korean company will carry out exploration of prospective areas in a number of regions of the country within three years. Besides, Shindong Enercom and the State Geology Committee of Uzbekistan on equal footing have created a joint venture, Uz-Shindong Silicon, for developing quartz deposits in Jizzakh region with a statutory fund of $4.2 million.
According to president Kim Yun Seek of Shindong Enercom, the results of exploration revealed the presence of silicon with 99.7% purity and reserves of about 2.2 million tons. “Now we are working to obtain licenses for the extraction of silicon,” he said.  
President of the Korean company said that in the first quarter of 2010, the joint venture plans to construct a quartz concentrate beneficiation plant with a capacity of 6,000 tons per year. At the second stage, the joint venture intends to build the polycrystalline silicon plant with a capacity of 10,000 tons per year. The plant is to be commissioned in 2012.
In September 2008, the State Geology Committee also signed a memorandum of association with another Korean company, NeoPLANT, on establishing a joint venture Uz-Kor Silicon with the statutory fund of $10.4 million to develop quartz and quartzite deposits in Qashqadaryo and Samarqand regions. Following the exploration work, it is also projected to organize a poly and mono-crystalline silicon production on the basis of proved reserves.
According to experts’ estimates, quartz reserves in Uzbekistan amount to 30 million tons with 98% silicon content.
ut.uz