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Experts gave an assessment that prospected stocks of more than 750 mineral resources in Uzbekistan have the value of three thousand billion dollars. This was
emphasized in the speech made by Islam Karimov at a meeting of the Council of the International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Tashkent, at the end of January 1994.
The Republic has large deposits of salt, raw aluminum, facing, ornamental and precious stones, some rare metals and raw building materials. Among the widely
known deposits is the Gasgan deposit of marble. The marble from it was used for decorating many large buildings and underground stations in numerous cities. There are also stocks of field
spar, kciolin clay, ozocerite1 corundum.
Among ferrous metals, there arc iron, manganese and chrome. However, there arc no deposits of iron of a reasonable scale suitable for industrial processing.
This is why the Beckabad motcillurgical works, the only of its kind in Uzbekistan, uses mainly scrap metal. The Republic has largo deposits of manganese, but only [ho deposits in Dautash,
Kizilbayrak and Takhtakarachin (Kashkadarya Region) raise sufficient prospects for production. There are some chromic iron ores, but being small and with a low content of chrome, they are
not economical. Deposits of gold deserve special attention.
The resources lying underground represent tremendous wealth. But only if they are used in a reasonable, efficient and thrifty way. we shall attain the desired
economic independence and create a basis for prosperity. This is why the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Natural Wealth" passed on September 23, 1994 will play a special
role. This Law regulates the relations of ownership, use and disposal of natural resources. This will provide for a rational and comprehensive use of mineral resources to meet requirements
of raw minerals and underground water. protect resources and the environment, use natural resources safely and guard the interests of stale, citizens and resource users.
Gold
Gold was the first metal discovered by man. II. forms the basis of commodity and monetary relations, performing the function of an international currency in
the external trade of all countries. Country strives to accumulate largo stocks of gold as a reserve for international payments. As to the size of gold production, Uzbekistan takes second
place in the' CIS, after Russia, and with regard to per capita production of gold it achieves first place. On an international scale, the Republic has eighth place in output of gold and
fifth regarding per capita production.
The center of gold production in the Republic is Murun-tau where more than 20 years ago, in 1972, the city of gold miners - Zarafshan - was founded.
Some gold deposits are also available in Tashkent, Djizak and Namangan Regions (Mardjanbulcik, Zarmitan and Chadak). Among mineral resources, an important place belongs to nonferrous metals, Hundreds of lodes and deposits of copper have boon prospected in the Republic, but only three deposits (Kalmakyr, Dalncyo, Saricheku) located in the Almalik District (Tashkent Region) ciro operation. The town of Almalik, founded there in 1951, has turned into an important center of nonferrous metallurgy. The Republic also has several promising ore lodes in the Kyzylkum Desert, in the south of Uzbekistan and in Karakalpakstan. Tungsten deposits arc developed near Ingichka (Samarkand Region) and Koylash (Djizak Region).
Natural Gas
Uzbekistan has plenty of fuel and power resources, such as natural gas, coal and oil. In the economic development of any region, the central place belongs to
the fuel and power] complex. The role of natural gas is increasing every year. The trend of the world economy suggests that the 21st century will be a "century of natural gas".
In this respect, Uzbekistan has high potential and is among the first top ten slates with its stocks of natural gas. Large gas deposits are located in the
Kashkadarya and Bukhara Regions. Extraction of natural gas began in the Republic about half a century ago, during the 40s in the Andijan Region, initially in small quantities. Since 1959,
due to new large deposits found in the Bukhara Region, production is now on a large scale. Currently the Kashkadarya Region has much more gas than other regions of the Republic, both in the
number and size of the deposits. The Kashkadarya Region accounts for almost three quarters of all gas production in the Republic. Many gas deposits contain hydrogen sulfide and gas
condensate, which can be produced as well.
Coal
The coal stocks are also rather large and have an important place in the fuel and power complex of Uzbekistan. Experts assess that the stocks of coal total
about five billion tons, and that stocks on balance reach more than three billion tons. The third factor is pit coal. If the amount of yearly output is 10 million tons, the stocks on
balance will be enough for 300 years. Major deposits of coal are to be found in Angren (Tashkent Region), Shargun and Baysun (Surkhandarya Region). Out of them, of greatest importance is
the Angren charcoal deposit, mined mainly by a cheap open method. This deposit contains dozens of millions of tons of kaolin that can be used for making ceramics, refractors and other items.
To use coal rationally, it is very important to process coal into gas or liquid fuel. The Republic has sufficiently good experience in this respect. The
"Podzemgas" Station, with a capacity of over four billion cubic meters of combustive gas a year (Angren City), is an unique industrial enterprise.
Oil
A major issue for the Republic still is to meet its domestic demand for oil and petroleum products. This problem has been aggravated because of the disruption
of economic links between the states after the breakup of the former Soviet Union.
Good prospects opened up for the production of oil on March 2, 1992 when an oil geyser was struck not far from Mingbulak (Namangan Region). On June 12, 1994
the first oil was obtained from that deposit.
It should be emphasized that while oil production in other oil-producing countries of the former Soviet Union is going down, it has
increased in Uzbekistan twofold from 1985 to 1993, see Table 1.
Table 1
PRODUCTION OF OIL BY THE CIS STATES, mill. tons
1993, as % of:
States 1985 1990 1993 1985 1990
Total in the CIS 595.0 571.0 390.0 65.5 68.3
Of which:
Azerbaijan 13.2 12.5 - - -
Belarus 2.0 2.1 2.0 100.0 94.8
Kazakhstan 22.8 25.8 23.0 100.9 89.1
Russia 542.0 516.0 352.0 65.0 68.2
Turkmenistan 6.0 5.7 4.4 73.3 77.2
Uzbekistan 2.0 2.8 3.9 195.0 139.3
Ukraine 5.9 5.3 4.2 71.2 79.2
In attaining oil self-sufficiency, a place will be accorded to the deposit of Kukdumalak in the Karshy Steppe of the Bukhara Region, near the border with
Turkmenia. In the opinion of geologists, this deposit is one of the most promising in the country. To facilitate oil production, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
passed a relevant resolution. A new oil deposit in Kamalak was found 30 km away from Karaulbazar. It is anticipated that the role and significance of oil both in the fuel balance and in
country's overall social and economic development will much improve in the near future, and Uzbekistan will have enough of its own oil to service its sectors.
Table 2
PRODUCTION OF FUEL IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN, BY TYPES
1970 1805.3 32094 3747 1990 2810.3 40761 6477
1980 1329.4 34840 5682 1991 2831.4 41862 5948
1985 1978.1 34589 5250 1992 3292.5 45803 4680
1986 2178.1 38589 5983 1993 3944.0 44400 3807
1987 2305.4 39777 5030 1994 5517.0 46200 3845
1988 2435.8 39943 5470 1995 7586.0 47500 3054
1989 2673.2 41092 6239
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