The Mineral Industry of Uzbekistan

The Mineral Industry of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has substantial natural resources, which include more than 1,700 known mineral deposits. The two minerals produced in the country in significant amounts were gold and uranium. In addition, Uzbekistan was one of the leading world producers of molybdenum, nitrogen, petroleum and natural gas, rhenium, and sulfur. Other valuable minerals produced included copper, gypsum, kaolin, silver, tungsten, and zinc. Many other mineral commodities (such as iron ore and lithium) had been identified but were not being mined. In the past several years, however, the country had made significant efforts to increase its mineral production, including through expansion of copper and gold production facilities, construction of new phosphate and potash plants, and development of shale oil and gas condensate deposits.

Exports of hydrocarbons, primarily natural gas, had provided the primary source of hard currency earnings in the past decade. In recent years, reduced output levels of petroleum and natural gas had reduced export revenue and, as a result, had started to affect the stability of the country’s imports. At the same time, economic growth steadily increased domestic demand for hydrocarbons and reduced Uzbekistan’s export potential. Between 2013 and 2015, Uzbekistan made efforts to reduce domestic consumption and preserve exports. Despite the recent efforts to ramp up domestic coal production, this measure alone is unlikely to improve the country’s energy balance significantly.

Vocablary

substantial – прочный, крепкий, солидный

natural resource – природные ископаемое

include – включат

mineral deposit – месторождение полезных ископаемых

mineral produce – минеральные продукты

significant – знак, символ, указание

amount – количества, величина

leading – футеровка свинцом; этилирование бензина; двигательный, ходовой

gold and uranium – золото и уран

nitrogen – азот

petroleum and natural gas – нефть и природный газ

rhenium and sulfur – рений и серий

valuable minerals – ценные минералы

copper – медь, красная медь

gypsum – гипс

kaolin – каолин

silver – серебро

tungsten – вольфрам

zinc – цинк

iron – железо

lithium – литий

gold production facilities – производство золото

phosphate – фосфат

potash plants – калийные растения

shale oil – сланцевая нефть

gas condensate – газовый конденсат

hydrocarbon – углеводород

currency – употребительность, распространенность

demand – требование

reduce – измельчать, размалывать

consumption – расход (масла, воздуха, пара, топлива), затрата (энергии)

domestic – товары отечественного производство

ramp up – наращивать

coal – уголь

measure – мера


mineral produce, nitrogen, copper, tungsten, shale oil, coal

a b

c d

e f