Sadik Alimovich was born on May 20, 1926, in Kokand, located in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan. He became one of the first representatives of the Soviet republics of Central Asia to travel to Europe not for study, but to exchange experience in the field of uranium ore processing, which secured him a place in the history of this important industry.
As previously mentioned in Turmush, Sadik Alimov grew up in a modest family and, at the age of 16, after finishing school, got a job on the railway.
“It was in 1942, during World War II. I worked as a stoker on a steam locomotive, and I had to load 8-10 tons of coal into the furnace per shift. It was hard work, but I developed a strong physique, like a bodybuilder. I was a tall and strong young man. Later, I completed assistant locomotive driver courses at the local depot and began working on the front-line railway, transporting the wounded from field hospitals. But I had a passion for learning since my youth. After the war, I applied to the Tashkent Polytechnic Institute and was accepted. Studying during the day and training in the evening—I have always been passionate about sports and became a candidate for master of sports in wrestling,” he shared.
In 1953, after completing his studies, Alimov was assigned to the settlement of Min-Kush in the Naryn region, where there was a closed military enterprise engaged in the extraction and processing of uranium ore.
Two years later, he was transferred to the settlement of Kosh-Tegirmen, modern-day Kara-Balta, where the construction of the Hydrometallurgical Plant (HMP) began. At that time, residential neighborhoods, a Palace of Culture, and a sports complex were being built in the region.
When Sadik Alimov arrived in Kara-Balta, the HMP was already under active construction, and he was appointed as the supervisor of installation and head of the uranium ore processing shop. His team consisted of 130 people, including engineers and laboratory technicians.
“I oversaw the installation of equipment. The problem was the lack of specialists in the uranium industry, and information was limited. Western countries did not share their experience, so we studied and developed this industry through trial and error. We had to refine the technological chain ourselves, starting from crushing and ending with adjusting temperature and acid regimes. We experimented with various materials to avoid corrosion,” he recalled.
Sadik Alimov was full of energy and a desire for development. His innovative ideas contributed to increased productivity and product quality, which did not go unnoticed by the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the USSR. His achievements were recognized with awards and honors, including the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and the "Badge of Honor." However, for him, the most significant award was a business trip to socialist Hungary.
In the 1950s, the opportunity to travel abroad was rare. The Ministry of Atomic Energy chose Alimov from many candidates.
“I was summoned to Moscow, where I was prepared for the trip to Hungary for a whole month. I studied the Hungarian language and foreign policy. It was somewhat like being a diplomat, as I had to carry out an important state task,” he shared.
“A general from the ministry repeatedly asked me why I was going, and when I ran out of answers, he exclaimed: ‘You are the first Soviet person from Central Asia who will be in Europe not to study, but to teach!’ This event was meant to go down in history,” Alimov added.
His two years of work in Hungary became a true creative period, and he managed to learn the Hungarian language in just four months.
Sadik Alimov retired at the age of 82. He remained an active public figure until he faced a serious illness in 2021. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he contracted the coronavirus and found himself in critical condition. Doctors gave little hope, but thanks to his willpower and discipline, he managed to overcome the illness.
Although the illness left its mark, and his legs failed him, Sadik Alimov continued to be an energetic and impressionable person, well-remembering important dates and events.
“The most important advice I can give is to respect your parents. They are the most valuable to us. Do not be afraid of difficulties, take your work seriously, live honestly, and respect those around you. If possible, help each other!” he emphasized.
