Dushanbe, July 10, 2026 – The Europe Today: President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon visited the construction site of the Tajik Metallurgical Combine during his working trip to Sughd Province, reviewing progress on one of the country’s largest industrial projects aimed at strengthening domestic steel production and reducing import dependence.
According to officials, the metallurgical plant is being constructed in two phases at the Shohqadam iron ore deposit. The first phase, which commenced on April 1, 2025, will focus on the production of iron concentrate and ore and is scheduled for completion in September 2027. The second phase, expected to be completed by 2029, will introduce the production of Fe-90% iron briquettes, blooms, and reinforcement bars.
The project is being developed within the Shohqadam iron ore deposit, where additional geological surveys conducted by Australian company WOOD have confirmed reserves of approximately 59 million tonnes of iron ore across the Central, Eastern, and Western sections of the deposit.
Under the mining plan, up to 12 million tonnes of material will be processed annually during the initial stage, including the extraction of 2.5 million tonnes of ore. This is expected to produce around 1.1 million tonnes of iron concentrate with an iron content of between 63 and 68 percent, which will subsequently be processed into slag for further refining.
During the second phase, the slag will be converted into approximately 850,000 tonnes of Fe-90% iron briquettes annually. These briquettes will then be smelted to manufacture blooms and reinforcement bars, with an estimated annual production capacity of up to 300,000 tonnes.
The Tajik Metallurgical Plant is the project’s investor and developer, while China’s NETS company serves as the principal contractor responsible for concentrate, pellet, bloom, and reinforcement production. India’s Electrotherm, a global leader in metallurgical technologies operating in more than 32 countries, is supplying technology for the production of Fe-90% iron briquettes. China’s Lisen Company is also participating in the construction, while Austria’s SPS Austria has been engaged as the consulting firm overseeing construction quality and equipment standards.
As part of the project, a 90-megawatt power plant will also be constructed in cooperation with NETS to ensure a reliable energy supply for the complex.
Officials stated that the enterprise has been designed in full compliance with environmental regulations and international standards, incorporating modern technologies intended to minimize environmental impact.
Significant supporting infrastructure has already been developed, including a 14.3-kilometre 220-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line with an electrical substation, a 17.5-kilometre water supply pipeline supported by four pumping stations, and the ongoing expansion of a 20-kilometre highway linking Sayhun to the Shohqadam mine.
Administrative offices, employee dormitories, a canteen, and other essential facilities have also been completed to provide suitable accommodation and working conditions for staff and construction personnel.
Construction activities are currently underway around the clock, employing more than 1,200 local and international specialists. Upon completion of the first phase, the project is expected to create approximately 900 permanent jobs, while full commissioning of the complex will generate more than 1,500 long-term employment opportunities.
During the visit, President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan imported approximately US$600 million worth of reinforcement bars in 2025, emphasizing that the new metallurgical complex would enable the country to establish domestic production of reinforcement and other steel products, thereby reducing imports and strengthening industrial self-sufficiency.
The President instructed project officials to ensure that the first phase of the enterprise is completed and commissioned by September 2027. He also directed that construction of the second phase be accelerated so that the facility could become fully operational ahead of its planned 2029 completion date, further supporting Tajikistan’s industrial development and economic growth.
