Mirziyoyev Sets New Priorities for Steel Industry Development

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting at the Uzbek Metallurgical Plant to discuss priority areas for developing Uzbekistan's ferrous metallurgy sector. He outlined measures to expand the industry's raw material base, reduce dependence on imports, accelerate digitalisation and introduce artificial intelligence technologies.

The president said the ferrous metallurgy sector supplies raw materials to industries with a combined output exceeding US$50 billion, including construction, building materials, automotive manufacturing, machinery, energy and the electrical engineering industry. He said that achieving a GDP of US$240 billion by 2030 and sustaining annual economic growth of 8–9% would require the industry to develop on the basis of a stable raw material supply, competitive products and modern technologies.

The meeting noted that the sector remains dependent on imported raw materials, faces high production and energy costs, and has made insufficient progress in digitalisation and the adoption of artificial intelligence. These challenges were described as particularly significant amid global economic uncertainty and logistical constraints.

According to figures presented at the meeting, national demand for sheet and long steel products, pipes and metal structures has tripled over the past decade to 5.5 million tonnes. Construction of the nuclear power plant, the fourth copper processing plant and a new copper smelter alone will require around 2.5 million tonnes of sheet steel and reinforcing bars. Annual demand for steel products is expected to exceed 8 million tonnes by 2030.

Mirziyoyev instructed officials to strengthen oversight of the scrap metal market. The Bekabad Metallurgical Plant currently produces about 40% of its rolled steel products from recycled metal, while the remainder of its raw materials is imported. Although about 700,000 tonnes of scrap metal are officially supplied to the plant each year, authorities estimate that a further 500,000 tonnes remain outside official circulation. An electronic platform, E-lom, is due to become operational on 1 August, while a dedicated project office will be established under the government to monitor the ferrous metals market, promote competition and support price stability.

The meeting also addressed measures to strengthen the industry's raw material base. Officials said Uzbekistan has iron ore reserves of 1.5 billion tonnes. An agreement has been reached with Chinese partners to produce up to 650,000 tonnes of iron ore raw materials annually by processing ore from the Surun-ota deposit. The president also instructed officials to accelerate development of the Tebinbulak deposit, which is expected to enable annual steel production of up to 1 million tonnes, and to complete an agreement for annual supplies of 700,000 tonnes of iron ore raw materials from Tajikistan's metallurgical plant.

Mirziyoyev stressed the need to create favourable conditions for large private companies willing to establish integrated production chains, from geological exploration and mining to finished steel products. A specialised company will be established to centrally import raw materials for small and medium-sized metallurgical enterprises. It will receive US$200 million in funding, and imported raw materials will be sold exclusively through exchange trading mechanisms.

The meeting also focused on expanding the range of steel products and strengthening industrial cooperation. A new casting and rolling complex at the Uzbek Metallurgical Plant, commissioned on the same day, is expected to enable production valued at US$1.5 billion for the automotive industry, specialised machinery, industrial equipment, household appliances, agricultural machinery and construction. Relevant agencies were instructed to prepare projects for the production of seamless pipes, cold-rolled steel, and the introduction of 3D printing and precision metalworking technologies.

A 90-hectare eco-technology industrial park is planned at the Bekabad Metallurgical Plant. It will include a research centre for ferrous metallurgy and a modern laboratory for the international certification of products. Officials were also instructed to prepare a US$100 million programme of industrial cooperation projects around metallurgical enterprises in the Samarkand, Jizzakh, Namangan and Syrdarya regions.

The introduction of digital technologies and artificial intelligence was one of the central topics of the meeting. Officials cited the experience of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, where AI has reduced operating costs, lowered energy consumption and increased labour productivity.

On the president's instructions, a digital transformation programme will be prepared for the industry. It aims to increase equipment efficiency by 20%, reduce production costs by 10%, cut energy consumption by 15%, and lower maintenance costs and production downtime by 20%.

The Centre for Economic Research and Reforms will coordinate scientific support for the sector. It will work with research units of the Navoi and Almalyk mining and metallurgical combines, the Uzbek-Korean Scientific and Technological Centre of the Technological Metals Plant, Tashkent State Technical University, Navoi State University of Mining and Technologies, and the Almalyk branches of Tashkent State Technical University and the National University of Science and Technology MISIS.

These institutions will analyse demand for new steel products, develop technological solutions, prepare regional projects and design specialist training programmes. Annual, three-year and five-year development plans will be prepared for each region.

From the new academic year, a Department of Ferrous Metallurgy will open at the Bekabad Metallurgical Plant using a dual education model. The Centre for Economic Research and Reforms was also instructed to create a digital platform to consolidate information on industry challenges and establish a venture fund to finance and implement scientific developments.

Concluding the meeting, Mirziyoyev identified expansion of the raw material base, reducing import dependence, accelerating digitalisation and artificial intelligence adoption, developing new products and strengthening cooperation with the private sector as the industry's key priorities. Reports on these areas were presented by the heads of relevant ministries, agencies and regional authorities.