Uzbek state-owned metals and mining company Almalyk Mining-Metallurgical Complex, or AGMK, has announced a tender to build two mining and processing plants at two Uzbek polymetallic deposits, a spokesman with AGMK said Wednesday.

The plants are expected to be built at the Khandiza and Uch-Kulach deposits. Bids for the tender will be accepted until 1 May, Prime-Tass reported.

The tender is divided into two lots. The first lot envisages supplies of equipment, worth about US$35 million, for the plants, while the second lot envisages construction works, worth about US$25 million.

The Khandiza deposit contains silver, zinc, copper, lead, and also some selenium, cadmium, gold and indium. Under JORC (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) Code, the deposit’s reserves are estimated at 14.4 million tonnes of ore, with a silver content of 134 grams per tonne, zinc content of 7.24 grams per tonne, lead content of 3.5 grams per tonne and gold content of 0.38 grams per tonne.

Reserve figures for the Uch-Kulach deposit were not available.