Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has launched industrial production of the rare metal rhenium. This was announced by the press service of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AGMK).

As a result of years of scientific research by AGMK scientists and specialists, a technology was developed in 2021 to produce rhenium with a purity of 99.9%. This high level of purity was achieved through the hydrogen reduction of ammonium perrhenate.

In accordance with the approved business plan for 2025, the industrial production of this unique metal has now begun. A specialized rhenium production unit has been set up at the Uzbek Technological Metals Plant, equipped with modern German machinery.

Raw materials for rhenium production are sourced from the copper smelting plant and local industrial enterprises. According to the complex, the annual production volume is set at 3 tons.

Rhenium, element number 75 in the periodic table, is one of the densest and hardest metals. It is widely used as a catalyst in oil refining, in aerospace engineering, and electronics for producing high-precision parts. It is also employed in the nuclear industry for thermocouples, in medical research equipment, and in jewelry for coating applications.

The demand for rhenium on the global market remains high, with 1 kilogram of the metal averaging US$2,000.

The implementation of this project, combining scientific potential and modern production technologies, will contribute to the further development of the country's capacity to produce high value-added products.