TASHKENT (Xinhua) – Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree to step up the exploration and production of precious metals like gold and silver within three years, authorities said Wednesday.

As the Uzbek Justice Ministry has informed, the decree orders that gold and silver production be increased to 150 tons in 2020, and up to 300 tons in 2021. The decree serves as an endorsement for a state program which aims to increase mineral resource exploration to 35% in 2020, and 40% in 2021, according to a document posted by the state news agency UzA.

Uzbekistan has been carrying out reforms to develop its mining sector, which include lifting bans on private gold mining. Mirziyoyev in February ordered more transparent policies for the country’s gold reserves and production.