Uzbekistan to up sulfuric acid production
The capacity of sulfuric acid production in Uzbekistan will
increase by 1.4 times, from 950 metric tons to 1,300 metric tons
per year by 2020, according to the decree of Uzbekistan’s Cabinet
of Ministers.
The government decree envisages increasing the capacity by
constructing new sulfuric acid producing facilities (with capacity
of 650,000 metric tons per year each) at Ammofos-Maxam JSC and
Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine.
It is planned to commission the facilities at Ammofos-Maxam and
Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine in 2018 and 2019,
respectively.
Meanwhile, the outdated facilities for sulfuric acid production
will be decommissioned at Ammofos-Maxam (with capacity of 500,000
metric tons per year) and Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine
(450,000 metric tons per year).
It is planned to finance the projects with the own funds of the
Uzhimprom State Joint Stock Company, Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction
and Development, loans from local and foreign banks, own funds of
Ammofos-Maxam and Navoi Combine.
However, the cost of the projects is not specified in the
government decree.
The general contractors for construction of the facilities on a
“turnkey” basis will be determined through closed tenders.
Ammofos-Maxam JSC, commissioned in 1969, is the largest of the
three chemical enterprises producing phosphate fertilizers in
Uzbekistan. The design capacity allows to produce over 338,000
metric tons of ammophos, 500,000 metric tons of sulfuric acid and
417,000 metric tons of wet-process phosphoric acid per year.
Spanish MAXAM Corp. obtained 49 percent of the enterprise’s share
for $18 million and investment commitments worth $30 million in
January 2008. The state is the owner of 51 percent of the block of
shares.
Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine is one of the largest gold
producers in Central Asia. The combine is fully owned by the state.
The annual production volume nears $2 billion.
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