Uzbekistan’s Navoi Mining and Metallurgical company (NMMC) is moving forward with the expansion of its flagship Muruntau mine, investing over $23 million on the Northeast cycle and Flow Technology Complex and the open pit, which it claims to be the largest in the world.
NMMC is currently ranked as the fourth-largest gold mining company in the world, producing 2.9 million oz. of the metal in 2023. Its Muruntau mine, the company says, is recognized by geologists as the largest in terms of gold reserves, with an estimated 4,500 tonnes of gold.
The expansion involves the construction of a new conveyor, power lines, an extension of the tipping conveyor line by 1,100 meters, plus other auxiliary facilities, at the 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, reducing trucking costs.
When full capacity is reached, these facilities will increase rock mass transportation volume by 15 million cubic meters per year. The complex expansion is projected to cost more than $8.2 million.
NMMC will also build a second conveyor line in the Muruntau open pit, with an estimated project cost of more than $15.3 million. In addition to the existing line, which spans 1,877.4 meters, a new line of over 1,000 meters is to be completed. At full capacity, the lines will transport up to 12 million cubic meters of rock mass per year.
The open pit currently spans 5.5 kilometers in length and 3.4 kilometers in width with a depth of 650 meters. The company is also planning to implement an expansion project that will facilitate gold mining at depths of up to 1,050 meters and increase production volume to more than 50 million tonnes of ore per year.
