Uzbek-Swiss Joint Venture «Bentonite» was established in February 2002. The founders of JV is  «ZEROMAX   GmbH» company (Switzerland) and SC «Uzgeoburneftegas (Uzbekistan).
The main activity of the enterprise is extraction of raw material and production of bentonite mud powder widely used for preparation of drilling mud used at oil and gas wells drilling, as well as in other sectors of national economy.

Before the creation of «Bentonite» JV the enterprises had to buy bentonite mud powder abroad.

JV Plant «Bentonite» on production of  bentonite mud powder is located in Karmanin district of Navoi region of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 32 km from the deposit of bentonite clays «Navbakhor», total floor area of which is 11 345, 85 m.2.

Navbakhor deposit was opened in 1998. Estimation and prospecting of the deposit were carried out by the  scientific-production center «Monolyth-98» and reserves of clay were confirmed to be in the amount of 7.1426 mln. ton. The plant’s yearly output is 40 000 ton of finished commodity.