DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus – Tajik-Canadian gold-mining Joint Venture Apreleveka has reached its rated capacity, which amounts to mining and processing 300,000 tons of ore per year, according to the Ministry and Energy (MoEI).
A source at a MoEI said that the joint venture modernized its gold-extracting factory last summer already. “The enterprise installed additional four tanks, bringing a total number of them to 10,” the said, noting that it allowed the enterprise increasing annual processing of ore from 1800,000 to 300,000 tons.
On prospects of further development of the joint venture, the source noted that Aprelevka plans to increase production of precious metals this year through exploring and developing new gold and silver deposits in the northern district of Mastchoh, “if it is granted licenses of course.”
Aprelevka is currently engaged in mining and processing of ores at the Qizil-Cheku, Burgunda, Aprelevka and Ekijjelon deposits in northern Tajikistan.
Established in 1995, Aprelevka is the Tajik-Canadian to develop Tajikistan’s gold potential. Dore alloy is the finished product of this enterprise. Tajikistan owns 51 percent of the shares and the Canadian company Gulf International Minerals assumes the 49% ownership interest in the joint-stock company Aprelevka. 60 percent of the company’s product goes to replenishing Tajikistan’s golden reserves.
Gulf International Minerals Ltd is a well-established Canadian junior gold and silver mining and exploration company. Besides producing deposits in northern Tajikistan, the company also has two exploration projects in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
According to Tajikistan’s Main Geology Directorate, Tajikistan has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold.
Besides Aprelevka, two other gold extraction joint ventures are operating in Tajikistan – the Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC) and the JV Darvoz.
ZGC is a leader of mining industry in Tajikistan. Gold-silver Dore alloy, which is refined at affinage plant in Tajikistan with producing of chemically pure gold and silver (99.99 and 99.95 alloys respectively), is the main product of the company. ZGC is Tajikistan”s largest gold producer and its capacity is 1.68 million tons of ore per year.
JV Darvoz that produces gold from its alluvial operation at the Yakhsu deposit is located in the Khatlon province in southern Tajikistan. It reportedly has proven reserves of around 25 tons of gold.
As far as the country’s silver reserves are concerned, a source at the Tajik Main Geology Directorate said that the total silver reserves in Tajikistan are estimated at 60,000 tons.
