Uzbekistan aims to produce 500,000 tons of copper by 2030

The government of Uzbekistan recently announced plans to increase the country's copper production to 500,000 tons by 2030. The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine's third copper beneficiation plant (CPP-3), backed by a US$2.7 billion investment, began its first phase in March 2026. Once fully operational, the combine's daily output of copper concentrate is expected to rise from 2,400 tons to 5,000 tons. A new copper smelter, also requiring a US$2.5 billion investment, is under construction at the site. The government forecasts that these two facilities together will boost Almalyk's annual output of cathode copper from 148,500 tons to 300,000 tons.