Government sources quoted by Interfax and Reuters say President Islam Karimov last week issued an order giving a state-owned Uzbek company, the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combinate, the right to develop the Khandiza deposit instead of Oxus.
Neither report provides an explanation as to why Karimov made such a decision.
Interfax quoted Oxus's Uzbekistan representatives as saying they are aware of the presidential order.
Uzbekistan has recently seized the assets and output of Zarafshan-Newmont, an U.S.-Uzbek joint venture that operates one of world's biggest open gold pits in the Qizilqum Desert. Authorities cited tax arrears allegedly owed by the company to justify the move.
(Interfax, Reuters)
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Neither report provides an explanation as to why Karimov made such a decision.
Interfax quoted Oxus's Uzbekistan representatives as saying they are aware of the presidential order.
Uzbekistan has recently seized the assets and output of Zarafshan-Newmont, an U.S.-Uzbek joint venture that operates one of world's biggest open gold pits in the Qizilqum Desert. Authorities cited tax arrears allegedly owed by the company to justify the move.
(Interfax, Reuters)
Central Asia In Focus
Central Asia In Focus
THE COMPLETE STORY: Click on the icon to view a dedicated webpage bringing together all of RFE/RL's coverage of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
