Navoi Region
Uzbekistan's mining center with Muruntau open-pit gold mine—one of world's largest—in Kyzylkum Desert.
Navoi Region is Uzbekistan's mining heartland—an arid territory where gold, uranium, and other minerals generate substantial export revenue. The Muruntau gold mine, one of the world's largest open-pit gold operations, anchors extractive economy.
Gold mining dominates. Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NMMC) operates Muruntau and other deposits, producing significant percentages of Uzbekistan's gold output. Uranium mining adds to mineral extraction, though details remain opaque.
The Kyzylkum Desert's harsh conditions limit non-mining development. Cotton cultivation relies on irrigation from the Amu Darya and Zarafshan rivers. The city of Navoi provides services for mining workforce and agricultural communities.
New chemical production facilities (2025) expand industrial base beyond mining. Better Cotton Initiative programs operate in the region, improving agricultural sustainability practices.
The biological pattern is desert extraction: Navoi converts mineral resources into export revenue while maintaining limited agricultural activity in irrigated zones.