Moscow-based Monolit is bidding for an 85.2% stake in the Kokanda Superphosphate Plant, Uzbekistan’s only producer of ammoniated superphosphate, a source at the State Property Committee told Interfax.

Austria’s Aquila Shipping and Ship Management GmbH is also bidding in the tender for the stake, which was called in September, he said.

The results of the tender are expected to be announced before the end of this year.

The starting price for the stake is US$3.615 million. The stake will go to the company that offers the highest price and assumes the most investment obligations, the minimum amount of which is $5 million.

The Kokanda annually produces about 160,000 tonnes of ammoniated superphosphate, which is shipped primarily to domestic farmers. The plant has capacity to process 178,000 tonnes of phosphorite concentrate per year.