The Navoiy Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NGMK), the largest gold producer in central Uzbekistan, is boosting uranium production, the Uzbek Pravda Vostoka newspaper reported on 5 September.

"The uranium industry is developing intensively. Its future is determined by a state programme for developing the potential and effective use of uranium deposits in 2006-2015," the report said praising the activities of the combine.

The report also said that development work had started at seven new and promising uranium deposits in the country and this would increase uranium production.

"The [Uzbek] State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources has started the development of seven new and promising uranium deposits. As a result, [uranium] production will increase by 1.7 times by 2012," the report said.