Uzbekistan aims to double uranium production to 15,000 tons by 2030
Uzbekistan intends to double uranium production — from 7.5 thousand tons in 2026 to 15 thousand tons by 2030. At the same time, authorities plan to increase the volume of explored reserves to 200 thousand tons. These targets were presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 5 during a discussion on the development of the mining industry.
According to data from the press service of the head of Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev reviewed development plans for the Navoiuran enterprise and the Uzbek Plant of Technological Metals.
At the Plant of Technological Metals, special attention is paid to creating a full production chain — from geological exploration and extraction to beneficiation, deep processing of raw materials, and the release of finished products.
By the end of 2026, the enterprise plans to launch 12 investment projects, expand its range of locally produced goods, and increase the output of high-purity selenium and tellurium.
Currently, the plant has mastered the production of five types of products: tungsten, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, and rhenium. Additionally, it plans to establish the production of another 11 types of raw materials, including nickel, cobalt, graphite, antimony, tin, manganese, platinum, vanadium, mercury, and copper.
By 2030, the production value of 16 types of critical raw materials is intended to reach more than $2.7 billion.
Particular attention was paid to the deep processing of tungsten. To implement these projects, the company expects to attract $1.1 billion in investments, and increase the volume of production in monetary terms to almost $2.2 billion by 2030.
Proposals for developing promising deposits of rare and rare-earth elements, expanding the raw material base, and accelerating investment projects were also reviewed.
How Uzbekistan intends to double uranium production
The Navoiuran enterprise plans to expand geological exploration and technological drilling, develop production infrastructure, and install additional sorption units.
The implementation of these measures should ensure the creation of 250 new jobs.
Authorities call stable supplies of chemical reagents one of the conditions for production growth. To this end, they intend to strengthen cooperation between local industrial enterprises and increase supplies of technical sulfur, sulfuric, and nitric acids.
In addition, Uzbekistan plans to make wider use of alternative technologies. By 2030, the share of reagents replacing sulfuric acid is expected to reach 40%.
According to the data presented, global demand for uranium raw materials has grown by 15–20% in recent years, and a further increase of another 28% is expected by 2030.
Against the backdrop of these forecasts, Uzbekistan intends to develop new deposits, increase extraction efficiency, and expand production capacities to reach 15,000 tons of uranium per year by 2030.
Economist.KG March 21, 2026 13:13 Updated
Ivan Donis
