Tajikistan plans non-ferrous metals industrial park in Sughd province

Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and Tibet Everest have signed a memorandum of cooperation to establish a non-ferrous metallurgy industrial park in Sughd province. According to the ministry, the project aims to expand the processing of mineral resources, localize production, create jobs and increase Tajikistan’s export potential. The project’s estimated cost, planned investment and construction timeline have not yet been disclosed. The memorandum was signed during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Tajikistan on October 18–20, when he attended a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

During the visit, China expressed its readiness to expand cooperation with Tajikistan in trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and so-called “green minerals,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Emomali Rahmon also discussed expanding bilateral economic and investment ties with Li. A project discussed for years Plans to establish a major non-ferrous metallurgy complex in northern Tajikistan have been under discussion for several years. In 2022, Tibet Everest, the parent company of the Tajik-Chinese Mining Company, presented a concept for a “world-class non-ferrous metals industrial park” in Tajikistan, Asia-Plus reported at the time. Tibet Everest operates in the country through the Tajik-Chinese Mining Company. On September 21, 2026, the second phase of the company’s metallurgical plant was commissioned in Istiqlol. According to the president’s press service, at full capacity the plant will be able to produce up to 30,000 tons of refined lead, 1,000 tons of copper matte, 40 tons of pure silver and 100 kilograms…