Inspection for control in the field of mining industry and geology under the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On June 9, 2026, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of strategic projects aimed at the widespread introduction of digital and artificial intelligence technologies in the mining and geology sector. The meeting focused on the technological transformation of the industry, the rational use of natural resources, and the integration of modern digital solutions into the management system.

This sector serves as a backbone of the national economy. In 2025, 20 percent of the total industrial output was generated by mining and geological enterprises, contributing 118.5 trillion soums to the state budget. Thanks to digitalization initiatives, major industrial complexes saved 7.3 trillion soums in operational expenses last year alone, reducing production costs by 9.1 percent. Additionally, through the "Geomonitoring" information system, data on more than 2,000 mining sites was fully converted into digital format.

According to the new five-year plans, practical work has commenced to expand gold reserves by an additional 879 tons, silver by 510 tons, and copper by 676,000 tons. Artificial intelligence technologies will serve as the primary driver in achieving these targets. The system enables rapid analysis of geological data, forecasting of new deposits, precise calculation of reserves, and improvement of drilling efficiency.

Under the President's instructions, all maps, exploration results, and laboratory analyses will be consolidated into a single electronic database. As part of establishing the National Geological Database, a dedicated "Technological Transformation Center" will be set up. This center will digitize more than 36,000 historical and primary reports. These measures will allow for a further 10 percent reduction in production costs, halve the time required to discover new deposits, and quadruple the number of investment proposals available to investors.

The industry aims to attract over $30 billion in investment by 2030. To support this goal, 44 major projects for implementing artificial intelligence will be executed between 2026 and 2030 across the mining-geological sector and within 6 major state enterprises: "Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat", "Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combinat", "Navoiyuran", "Uzmetkombinat", "Uzbekugol", and "Uzbekistan Technological Metals Combinat" joint-stock companies. The projects cover five priority areas, including production automation, corporate governance, occupational safety, and digital transformation. Consequently, operational efficiency will increase by 7 percent, equipment reliability by 20 percent, energy efficiency by 8 percent, and human-error risks will decrease by 15 percent.

Strengthening digital control systems and applying artificial intelligence in the mining and geology sector will elevate transparency in the utilization of state resources to a new level. This process will facilitate the full automation of state oversight regarding the lawful and rational use of subsoil resources, prevent economic losses, and minimize corruption risks.

A reliable database established through digitalization will foster a guaranteed legal and economic environment for international investors. An accurate assessment of the mineral resource base and the strict enforcement of legality will reinforce the long-term sustainable development of this strategic sector and secure the nation's economic safety.