According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the programme was adopted for further sustainable and balanced development of coal industry through implementing priority investment projects, expanding resource bases, ensuring safety of mining works, training specialists, etc.

The programme includes nine investment projects with total estimated cost of US$555.2 million.

The programme said that the projects will be financed due to loans of commercial banks for US$487.9 million and resources of the Fund for technical re-equipment and modernization of enterprises of coal industry at the size of US$67.3 million.

Uzbekistan plan to direct US$438 million to modernization of existing enterprises. In particular, it is planned to spend US$101.3 million to modernization of Shargunkomir and US$232.9 million to update old equipment.

About US$24.5 million will be used to support production capacities of Uzbekugol open stock joint company and US$78.4 million to modernization of the railroads of the company.

Within the programme, it is also planned to direct US$117.2 million to new constructions. In 2014-2016, it is planned to construct Apartak mine. About US$106.5 million will be used to this project.

Besides, Uzbekugol will invest US$2.7 million to creation of automated information system of centralized dispatcher control and management production and US$8 million to construction and re-equipment of territorial-distribution centers in Ferghana Valley, Karakalpakstan, Khorezm and Bukhara regions.

The programme also approved forecast parameters of geologic exploration works for coal, carried out by enterprises of the State Geology Committee of Uzbekistan.