Gold ore raw material sources consist of 13 deposits that contain about 85 percents of all explored gold reserves of Uzbekistan. The bigger part of the deposits is already being developed or planned to be developed in the nearest future. 80 percent of all gold produced in Uzbekistan falls to NMMC share.

NMMC is one of the few enterprises in the world with a full “gold" cycle: from operational supplementary exploration of mineral reserves to jewellery production and sale.

NMMC Central Mining Administration plays a defining role in the Combinat economics (gold production was 85.9 % in 2009). Unique in gold reserves Muruntau deposit is considered to be the largest one on the Eurasian continent and has been developed with the open pit with the same name since 1967. Its ores are classified as gold quartz type and defined by high gold extraction using gravity and sorption scheme. In 1969 Hydrometallurgical plant No.2 (HMP-2) was put into operation in order to process these ores and produce refined gold. Zarafshan gold extracting complex serves as a production base for development of new scientific ideas and technologies.

One of the main directions of technical progress in Muruntau deposit development was introduction of conveyor ore transportation mining method using combined truck and conveyor transport. Its share has lately been 70 % of overburden transportation volume and up to 50% of mined ore transportation volume.

Among the foreground tasks are implementation of the large project on building a high-angle conveyor and a new reloading station. After commissioning this conveyor will ensure elevation of ore from open pit bottom horizons to the altitude of 270 metres with capacity of 50 thousand tons per day.

Production of upgraded and reconstructed gold heap leaching mine is growing fast. The second crushing and sorting complex, which helps to increase ore feed reliability greatly, has been restored and relaunched. Its main task is reprocessing of gold off-balance ores from Muruntau open pit stockpiles. The precious metal is extracted by heap leaching method that helps to involve low grade ores into production profitably.

In order to process ores of Muruntau deposit for the first time in the world practice the sorption and filter- free process scheme for gold extraction from cyanic pulp has been implemented, the scheme of wet semi-autogenous milling on wet autogenous mills (WAM) is used, the process of refined sliver and palladium by-product extraction has been developed and introduced.

Volumes of gold production in the Republic grow steadily with introduction of new technologies. Considering the fact that oxide reserves are limited (15-20% of explored reserves) simultaneously with the complex operation scientific research and design works for sulphide ore processing have been conducted and based on their results the technology of bacterial oxidation of sulphide containing flotation concentrate (BIOX®) has been chosen as the most acceptable option.

In 2009 Phase I of BIOХ® plant for processing of Kokpatas refractory sulphide ore was stepwise commissioned. This helped to increase gold production and create new job places.

Zarmitan gold extraction complex is based on Marjanbulak, Guzhumsai, Promezhutochnoye, Charmitan and Karakutan deposits of Samarkand gold ore region.

In 2006 we began implementation of projects for construction of deposit mining complex in Zarmitan gold ore zone. The purpose of the implementation is to include reserves of recently explored deposits into production, to recover retired capacities and prolong service life of existing complexes, to develop production capacities and infrastructure in the region.

In 2009 based on the results of monitoring conducted by the London Bullion Market Association, Muruntau gold was certified with the status of "Good Delivery”. The trade mark of Uzbekistan on gold bullions is acknowledged all over the world as reflecting the best quality of product.