Uzbekistan orders gold cluster and carbon credit program in Karakalpakstan

September 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Uzbekistan's president ordered the creation of a gold mining and processing cluster with 1,000 jobs in Karakalpakstan within one month. He also tasked officials to launch a carbon credit mechanism and negotiate with major importing countries. The directives came during a meeting on the region's economic development.

Key Facts

A Chinese investor has invested $33 million in the Urusoy deposit in Karaozek, identifying 4 tonnes of gold reserves across 200 hectares and creating 320 jobs.
The Borsa Kelmas deposit in Kungrad sells 1 million tonnes of technical salt annually without processing.
A German company plans to invest $30 million in a quartzite deposit in Beruni to produce crystalline silicon and generate $25 million in annual exports.
Officials were ordered to implement an additional $200 million in chemical industry projects and create 5,000 jobs on top of the initial $400 million plan.
The carbon credit mechanism could bring Karakalpakstan at least $50-100 million annually, with negotiations ordered with Japan, South Korea, the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Gold Mining Cluster

The president ordered the creation of a gold mining and processing cluster with 1,000 jobs within one month. Only 20 percent of Karakalpakstan's territory has undergone geological exploration, leaving raw material reserves insufficiently documented as major investors arrive. A comprehensive geological exploration program and reassessment of deposit reserves were also mandated.

Chemical Industry Expansion

The Kuskanatau deposit in Bozatov can process mirabilite to produce 45,000 tonnes of sodium sulfate annually, with magnesium sulfate obtainable from astrakhanite. Chemical industry officials were tasked with implementing an additional $200 million in projects beyond the initial $400 million plan, creating 5,000 jobs. Crystalline silicon sells for $5,500 per tonne on the world market.

Carbon Credit Program

The president ordered the launch of a carbon credit mechanism in Karakalpakstan within one month and negotiations with major importing countries including Japan, South Korea, the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Carbon credit revenues will supplement infrastructure funding and remain in Karakalpakstan. Large foreign companies have proposed financing tree planting in environmentally distressed areas through a forest carbon credit system. A forest carbon credit program is to begin on 50,000 hectares of the Aral Sea region by year-end.