Uzbekistan-based steel producer Uzmetkombinat is planning to begin producing ferroalloys based on the Dautash ferromanganese ore deposit in Uzbekistan's province of Qashqadaryo, and is currently looking for a strategic investment partner.
Accordingly, the project will include the organization of an open pit for manganese ore mining, the construction of facilities for primary ore dressing directly on the site, as well as the construction of ore dressing capacities at Uzmetkombinat for the production of ferromanganese, silicomanganese and ferrosilicomanganese.
The Dautash deposit holds 1.25 million mt of ore resources with up to 20 percent manganese content. According to the estimations of experts, the annual ore extraction in the amount of 40,000 mt will allow Uzmetkombinat to produce 15,000 mt of commercial grade manganese ore, of which 8,000 mt will be used to cover domestic needs, while the rest will be exported.
According to experts' preliminary calculations, project investment is estimated at $40 million and is expected to be implemented within three years up to 2013.