DUSHANBE, April 22, 2013, Asia-Plus — A new metallurgical plant is expected to be introduced into operation at Open Joint-stock Company (OJSC) Anzob Ore Refinery in northern Tajikistan in the near future, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).
An official source at a MoEI says the U.S. company, Comsup Commodities, Inc., which assumes a 100 percent ownership interest in Anzob Ore Refinery, has invested more than 4.5 million U.S. dollars in construction of the metallurgical plant.
According to the statistical data of the MoEI, the Anzob ore refinery has produced 4,675 tons of mercury-antimony concentrate over the first three months of this year, which was 427 tons more than in the same period last year.
“Today, 100 percent of mercury-antimony concentrate Tajikistan produces is exported for processing outside the country, while the new metallurgical plant is expected to produce up to 5,000 tons of antimony metal (final product) per year,” the source said.
Tajikistan-United States joint venture Anzob was established in July 2005, with Tajikistan owning 51 percent of the shares and the United States assuming a 49% interest in the enterprise. The enterprise mines ore and produces mercury-antimony concentrate.
In September 2006, Comsup Commodities, Inc. bought Tajikistan’s 51 percent ownership interest in the operation for 11 million somoni (equivalent to 3.3 million USD), bidding against two local companies. The auction that was held on September 15, 2006 started at more than 9 million somoni and the ownership interest was sold to Comsup for 11 million somoni.
