At Uzbek gold mining group Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company (NMMC), cost optimisation remains a core operational priority. As part of this strategy, high-capacity conveyor systems are extensively deployed for the transportation of mined rock mass to permanent and temporary storage facilities.
Across NMMC’s open-pit operations and hydrometallurgical processing plants, belt conveyor systems it says have demonstrated their effectiveness as a reliable, energy-efficient and economically advantageous method of rock mass handling. To date, conveyor lines with a cumulative length of 54.3 km are in operation. These systems facilitate the monthly transportation of more than 3.1 million cubic metres of rock mass. This includes the world’s longest high angle conveyor at Muruntau – KHK-270 which is 3 km long and has a 37 degree angle, plus it can handle 16 Mt/y.
The implementation of conveyor-based haulage significantly reduces cycle times, haulage distances, and operating costs associated with truck transportation, particularly fuel and lubricant consumption, fleet maintenance, and equipment wear. This contributes not only to lower unit production costs but also to improved operational efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
In recent years, NMMC says it has prioritised the development and expansion of high-productivity conveyor infrastructure, including the implementation of continuous cyclic-flow technology (CFT) complexes. In 2025 alone, new conveyor lines with a total length of 6,356 m were constructed and commissioned, including 4,900 m at the Muruntau open pit and 1,456 m at the Daugyztau deposit. In 2026, construction is ongoing on additional conveyor systems exceeding 12.8 km in total length at the Muruntau and Auminzo-Amantoy deposits.
Importantly, all design, manufacturing, and installation works are carried out in-house. Under the localisation program, conveyor equipment is manufactured by the Navoi Machine-Building Plant and the Zarafshan Repair and Mechanical Plant, while construction and installation activities are performed by the Zarafshan Construction Department. This vertically integrated approach enhances operational control, strengthens industrial capacity, and supports sustainable cost reduction.
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