State Committee on geology and mineral resources of Uzbekistan and NeoPlant signed an agreement on realization of project on production of technical silicon on the base of Uz-Kor Silicon JV.

Expected capacity of the plant will be 5,000 tonnes a year, while the project cost is US$7 million.

State Committee on geology and mineral resources of Uzbekistan and NeoPlant created Uz-Kor Silicon JV in September 2008. Each side holds 50% stake in the venture. The charter capital of the venture is US$10.4 million. The venture received right to explore quartz and quartzite deposits in Kashkadarya and Samarkand region.

Uz-Kor Silicon JV launched exploration of Tolakul and Kuduk perspective fields in Kashkadarya region and Sarykul in Samarkand region in early 2009. Investment volume made up about US$1.5 million. Exploration results showed existence of silicon with purity of 99.8%.