Representative of Uzbekugol (Uzbek Coal) open joint stock company is completing design estimates of the project. It is expected that the sides will ink loan agreement in the second half of 2011.

The source said that the loan will be issued within economic cooperation of Uzbekistan with China within loan programme of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The loan will be directed at implementation of the second phase of modernization, which is envisaging increase of coal production at fields up to 400,000 tonnes a year. Russia’s ZUMK Engineering developed feasibility study. The project will be implemented within four years.