Turkmenistan produces 525 tons of iodine per year

Ashgabat, August 8 - Arzuw.news. Turkmenistan is among the world's leading producers of iodine with an annual production rate of about 525 tons, while the country has significant reserves of hydro-mineral raw materials for further development of the industry. This is reported by the publication Turkmenistan: Golden Age.

According to the Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, the most promising area for mining is southwestern Turkmenistan. Currently, three iodine mining plants of the State Concern "Türkmenhimiýa" operate in the Pribalkhan region: Khazar (Cheleken), Balkanabat and Boyadagh.

The Seitkerderi and Kuylar deposits in the West Kopetdag structure provide raw materials for the State Concern's Bereket plant. Iodine-bromine waters produce not only iodine, but also bromine compounds, magnesium and calcium salts, as well as valuable trace elements: strontium, boron and lithium.

Representatives of the Y. Kakaev International University of Oil and Gas are studying a method of evaporating trace element-laden water in special pools to improve production efficiency.

Increase in iodine production is possible due to the development of new fields in the Gograndag-Ekerem oil and gas bearing district. The Ekerem field in Esengulyi etrap of Balkan province uses formation water from reservoirs around abandoned oil wells.

Against the background of depletion of mineral raw materials, the value of hydro-mineral reserves is increasing, which attracts foreign companies to the Turkmen market.