NMMC to expand renewable energy use with $450 million solar initiative

Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company (NMMC), Central Asia’s largest gold producer, is ramping up its renewable energy efforts as part of Uzbekistan’s push to increase renewable energy’s share to 40% by 2030. NMMC has launched a $450 million program to expand solar power installations across its operations.

In the first half of 2024, NMMC installed photovoltaic panels at 21 industrial sites, totaling 5,750 kW, generating up to 9.7 million kWh of electricity annually. An additional 450 kW of solar capacity is set to be operational by the end of 2024 near the company’s facilities in the Tomdinsky district.

This follows the 2023 installation of 1,200 kW of solar capacity at various facilities, including 1,000 kW at the Navoi Machine-Building Plant. These investments are part of NMMC’s broader strategy to cut energy consumption and emissions, with solar water heaters now saving 1.7 million cubic meters of natural gas annually.

NMMC operates 12 major mines, including Muruntau-Myutenbai, the world’s largest open-pit gold mine, and several hydrometallurgical plants in Uzbekistan.