Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Public hearings were held on the project "Construction of a mining and metallurgical complex based on the Tebinbulak deposit in Karauzyak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan." The hearings were attended by more than 80 active citizens living in the village of Karatau and Karauzyak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and representatives of more than 12 small businesses.

Public hearings were organized by the initiator of the project Triangul Metals Tebinbulak together with the khokimiyat of Karauzyak district and were held in accordance with the requirements of Appendix No. 3 to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers from 7 September 2020 No. 541.

At the public hearings, information was provided on the MMC project, the prospects for its implementation for the economic development of the region, the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the population, the impact on the livelihoods of the local population and the environment.

The project involves the construction of the first mining and smelting plant with the first DRI (direct iron reduction) factory in Central Asia and will supply the domestic market with up to 1.8 million tons of iron smelting raw materials per year.

The issue of employment and professional retraining of young people was especially acute for local residents.

Local residents enthusiastically welcomed MMC Tebinbulak’s plans to create more than 5,000 jobs, where preference will be given to the local population based on professional skills.

It was also said at the meeting that the project pays special attention to the introduction of a number of environmental measures that exclude the possibility of deterioration of the environmental situation in the area of the proposed construction. Thus, 30 dust and gas cleaning filters and scrubbers will be installed at the facilities, which will retain up to 99.5% of emissions and recycling water will be used to rationally use water at the Tebinbulak MMC.

It was noted that the government provides for a number of special conditions for the implementation of the project, including the creation of a special industrial zone (SIP) "Qorao’zak" and its provision with external road transport and engineering and communication infrastructure (roads, water supply, sewerage, gas, electricity, telecommunications ).

As a result of the hearings, all those present expressed their support for the project and expressed their hope that the construction of the MMC will have a positive impact on the development of the region.