Navoi earmarks US$23M to expand Muruntau gold mine

Uzbekistan’s Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Co. is investing US$23 million to expand its flagship Muruntau gold mine in the country.

Navoi is currently ranked as the fourth-largest gold mining company in the world, producing 2.9 million oz. of the metal in 2023.

The expansion involves the construction of a new conveyor, power lines, and an extension of the tipping conveyor line by 1,100 metres at Muruntau’s Northeast complex. Launched in 2021, the complex represents a catalyst for the further development of Muruntau. At this complex, gold-bearing ore is crushed and transported by conveyors, a cheaper option than trucking.

When full capacity is reached, these facilities will increase rock mass transportation volume by 15 million cubic metres per year, the company said. The complex expansion is projected to cost more than US$8.2 million.

In addition, Navoi says it will build a second conveyor line in the Muruntau open pit, with an estimated project cost of more than US$15.3 million. In addition to the existing line, which spans 1,877.4 metres, a new line of over 1,000 metres is to be completed. At full capacity, the lines will transport up to 12 million cubic metres of rock mass per year.

The open pit at Muruntau, which Navoi says is the largest in the world, currently spans 5.5 km by 3.4 km with a depth of 650 metres. The company is also planning to implement an expansion project that will facilitate gold mining at depths of up to 1,050 metres and increase production volume to more than 50 million tonnes of ore per year.