Invest Uzbekistan

Why Uzbekistan

Top 10 worldwide in gold, top 5 in uranium — a resource base few markets can match

Gold, uranium, copper, natural gas and a broad range of critical minerals make up a resource sector that delivered $33.8 billion of exports in 2025 — up 24% year on year. More than 60% of the country's industrial potential is concentrated in mining and processing.

“Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat (NMMC) became the world's 4th largest gold producer in 2024 and plans to raise output by 30% — to 4 million ounces by 2030 — investing up to $600 million a year”
A dual listing on the London and Tashkent exchanges is being prepared

Key resource indicators · 2024–2026

  • $9,66 bn

    Gold exports, 2024

    OEC — latest annual data

  • 129,1 t

    Gold mined in 2024

    No. 10 worldwide · World Gold Council

  • 96 600 t

    Uranium reserves under JORC

    Declared April 2026, Navoiyuran

  • $1,1 bn

    Navoiyuran revenue from uranium

    2025 financial year

  • 2 500+ t

    Geological gold reserves

    NMMC estimate

  • 4,2 m ha

    Irrigated farmland

    Stable since 1990

  • $652 m

    Potash fertiliser exports

    OEC, 2024

  • 27 GW

    Renewable capacity target for 2030

    Ministry of Energy, 2024

Global resource rankings · 2024–2026

Uzbekistan's standing among the world's producers of key minerals.

Gold — NMMC as a company3,1 million ounces produced (2024)
No. 4 worldwide
Uranium$1,1 bn revenue (2025 financial year)
No. 5 worldwide
RheniumBy-product of Almalyk MMC
No. 7 worldwide
Gold — as a country129,1 t mined (2024)
No. 10 worldwide
Natural gas42 bn m³ produced (2025)
No. 11 worldwide
MolybdenumKalmakyr deposit
No. 12 worldwide
Copper — refined wire$789 m exported (2024)
Top 20 worldwide

Export structure · 2025

$33,8 bn

total exports+24% YoY
  • Gold and precious metals44%
  • Other (food, services)26,5%
  • Copper and refined metals9%
  • Cotton yarn and textiles9%
  • Fertilisers6%
  • Natural gas5,5%

Exports grew 24% YoY on gold (+54,8% YoY), copper, zinc, uranium products, food and fertilisers. Sources: Statistics Agency, OEC, World Bank, 2026.

Resource and infrastructure map

Boundaries are schematic — for illustration only

  • Gold

    Muruntau / Navoi — the world's No. 4 mine

  • Uranium

    Kyzylkum belt — 96 600 t of reserves

  • Copper and zinc

    Almalyk mining belt

  • Gas and oil

    Fergana Valley; Bukhara–Mubarek gas processing hub

  • Solar zone

    7 GW target by 2030

  • Agriculture

    4,2 million ha of irrigated land

  • Transport

    Trans-Caspian and Central Asian corridors

Energy transition — roadmap to 2030

  • 7 GW

    Solar capacity target for 2030

  • 5 GW

    Wind capacity target for 2030

  • 2 400 MW

    Nuclear power: VVER-1000, first concrete poured in June 2026

  • 27 GW

    Total renewable target for 2030 — against about 2 GW today

  • 40%

    Renewable share of electricity generation by 2030

  • CO₂ law

    Emissions trading: adopted July 2025, in force from January 2026

Electricity demand is projected to almost double — to 120 TWh by 2030. The IFC portfolio in Uzbekistan stands at $1 billion, including renewables. The 100 MW Masdar pilot was one of the first industrial-scale projects, and further capacity auctions are open to international bidders.

Investment opportunities by sector

  • Mining and metallurgy

    • Deep processing of gold, copper and zinc
    • Development of ore concentration complexes
    • Sustainable mining technologies
    • NMMC IPO — a dual listing in London and Tashkent

  • Energy

    • Solar and wind PPP auctions (backed by the IFC)
    • Gas processing and transport infrastructure
    • Nuclear supply chain and uranium processing
    • Cross-border energy corridor projects

  • Agro-processing

    • Modern fruit and vegetable processing plants
    • Export-oriented cold chain logistics
    • Fertiliser production and value-added chemistry
    • Biotechnology and sustainable agriculture

Key operators

Who runs the resource base

FocusCompanyDetails
Gold · UraniumNavoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat (NMMC)No. 4 worldwide in gold production; preparing for an IPO
Copper · Zinc · MoAlmalyk MMCKalmakyr deposit (porphyry); Uch-Kulach lead-zinc deposit
UraniumNavoiyuran96 600 t of uranium reserves under JORC; $1,1 bn revenue (2025 financial year)
Gas · OilUzbekneftegaz264 hydrocarbon fields; Kandym gas complex ($3,4 bn)
Renewable energyIFC + MasdarWinners of the international capacity auctions

Learn more

  • Economy

    GDP growth, FDI inflow, macro stability

  • Geography

    Strategic location in Central Asia

  • Doing business

    Investment law, PPP and incentives

  • Contacts

    Get in touch with the Investment Promotion Agency

Key sources for investors

Official national and international sources

Sources: World Gold Council 2025, World Nuclear Association (April 2026), IAEA, IEA, OEC 2024, Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Enerdata, IRENA, Ministry of Energy.