Translated with AI
On July 9, during a working visit to the cities and districts of the Sughd region, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon inspected the construction of the Tajik Metallurgical Plant CJSC metallurgical plant in the Bobojon-Gafurov district. The plant's construction is being carried out in two phases, according to the presidential press service.
The first phase of the project began on April 1, 2025. It includes the establishment of iron ore concentrate and pellet production. Completion of the first phase is scheduled for September 2027.
The second phase of construction is scheduled for completion in 2029. This stage will include the production of iron briquettes with an iron (Fe) content of 90%, as well as blooms and rebar.
The metallurgical plant is being built on the territory of the Shokhkadam iron ore deposit.
As part of additional geological exploration, the Australian company WOOD conducted research at three sections of the deposit—the Central, Eastern, and Western sections. Confirmed iron ore reserves at the Shokhkadam deposit currently total 59 million tonnes.
According to the mine development and mineral extraction plan, the volume of stripping operations in the first year will amount to 12 million tons. Of this volume, 2.5 million tons will be for ore extraction.
The mined ore is planned to produce 1.1 million tons of iron ore concentrate with an iron content of 63% to 68%. This entire volume of concentrate will then be sent for further processing to produce pellets.
The second phase of the project involves processing the pellets, which are expected to produce 850,000 tons of iron briquettes annually with an iron (Fe) content of 90%.
In the final stage, iron briquettes, or hot briquetted iron (HBI), with an iron content of 90%, will be smelted. As a result, the plant will be able to produce up to 300,000 tons of blooms and rebar annually.
The investor and developer of the plant is Tajik Metallurgical Plant CJSC. The general contractor for the project is the Chinese company NETC, which is responsible for organizing the production of iron ore concentrate, pellets, blooms, and rebar.
The Indian company Electrotherm is also participating in the project. It is implementing a technology for producing iron briquettes with a 90% iron content. The company operates and collaborates in more than 32 countries worldwide.
The Chinese company Lisen, together with the Tajik Metallurgical Plant JSC, is also one of the main contractors for the construction of the plant.
The Austrian company SPS was engaged as a consultant for the project. It is responsible for quality control of construction work and equipment, as well as technical supervision of the construction.
In addition, jointly with the Chinese company NETC, it is planned to build and commission a 90 MW power supply center on the territory of the field.
According to a statement from the presidential press service, the facility is planned to be built and commissioned in compliance with environmental requirements and regulations. It is expected that the modern technologies used will not have a negative impact on the environment.
Equipment, machinery, construction equipment, and other materials used in the project must meet international standards. Modern technologies will be used in the production process.
To ensure the smooth operation of the future enterprise, the necessary infrastructure is already being created.
To date, a 220 kV high-voltage power line, 14.3 km long, has been installed, and an electrical substation has been constructed. A 17.5 km water pipeline with four pumping stations has also been installed.
At the same time, construction and expansion of the main road to the Shokhkadam iron ore deposit from the village of Saikhun began. The road is 20 km long. Mining operations to expand it are currently ongoing.
An administrative building has already been constructed on the company's premises. A dormitory, cafeteria, and other necessary infrastructure facilities have been prepared for the workers and construction crews to live and relax.
Construction work at the plant is currently ongoing around the clock, involving over 1,200 local and international specialists.
Once the first phase of the plant is operational, 900 permanent jobs are planned to be created. Once construction is fully completed, this number will exceed 1,500. Employees will reportedly be provided with competitive wages.
During his presentation of the project, Emomali Rahmon recalled that in 2025, Tajikistan imported rebar worth $600 million from abroad.
The President noted that the country now has the opportunity to establish its own production of rebar and other iron products.
Emomali Rahmon ordered the commissioning of the first stage of the metallurgical plant by September 2027. According to the plan, the second stage should be completed and commissioned by 2029.
The head of state also ordered the acceleration of construction of the second phase of the plant so that it would begin operations ahead of schedule.
