Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev launches AI-driven steel sector overhaul

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a comprehensive modernization plan for the country’s ferrous metallurgy industry, emphasizing artificial‑intelligence integration, expanded domestic raw‑material production and reduced import dependence. He said the sector’s development must rest on “a sustainable raw material base, competitive products, and the introduction of modern technologies.”

Demand for sheet steel, long products, pipes and metal structures has risen to 5.5 million tonnes and is projected to exceed 8 million tonnes annually by 2030. The plan includes agreements with Chinese partners to produce 650,000 tonnes of iron‑ore concentrate from the Surun‑Ota deposit and a deal to import 700,000 tonnes annually from Tajikistan. A new electronic platform, E‑Lom, will track all ferrous‑scrap transactions in real time from 1 August, while a state‑funded $200 million company will centrally import raw materials for about 150 SMEs.

The strategy targets a 20 % rise in equipment efficiency, a 10 % cut in production costs, a 15 % reduction in energy use and a 20 % drop in downtime, aiming to help the steel industry contribute to Uzbekistan’s goal of reaching a $240 billion GDP by 2030.