DUSHANBE, December 14, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s ministries and organizations have endorsed intention of the world’s top nickel producer, Russia’s Norilsk Nickel, to develop Big Konimansour silver deposit in northern Tajikistan, Talbon Bukhoriyev, head of the department for development of industrial sector of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, the profile ministries and organizations submitted their resolutions on this subject to the government on December 12. The MoEDT official noted that the Tajik side plans to develop the silver deposit in a joint venture. “However, Tajikistan is also ready to consider the second version, under which Norilsk Nickel will develop the deposit on its own,” Bukhoriyev said, noting that Tajikistan may get benefit from the second version as well.
“The plant that will be constructed at the deposit will have the capacity of processing 30 million tons of ore a year,” said Bukhoriyev, “Besides, new jobs will be created for local population.” He noted that investor will be exempted from paying taxes only for the period of the construction of the plant. “As soon as the plant is put into operation, the company will pay profit tax.”
“As far as the Norilsk Nickel’s request to create a free economic zone in northern Tajikistan is concerned, Tajikistan may possibly agree with this proposal, especially as such zones are planned to be created in Gorno Badakhshan and Khatlon that will lead to an increase in foreign investment,” the source stressed. Besides, to protect interests of the Tajik side the country’s government is offered to set up a permanent commission that will include specialists from relevant ministries and organizations, as well as representatives of the Russian side, according to Bukhoriyev.
“Tajik Government and Norilsk Nickel will probably sign an agreement next year,” the MoEDT official said, adding that everything depends on a decision the government is expected to make in the near future.
As it was reported last month, Russia’s MMC Norilsk Nickel Group is weighing development of Tajikistan’s largest silver deposit Big Konimansour on its own, without participation of the Tajik side. The mining has not been actually started yet at this deposit. According to expert estimates, nearly US$2 billion are needed develop this silver deposit. Besides, it will be necessary to resttle residents of the Adrasman settlement located on the deposit.
Big Konimansour in northern Tajikistan is estimated to contain around 1 billion tons of ore. The silver reserves of the Big Konimansour deposit are estimetly more than 50,000 tons. Specialists say one ton of the deposit”s ore contained around 40-50 grams of silver, with 0.38 percent zinc and 0.49 percent lead.
MMC Norilsk Nickel Group produces nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium, platinum and other precious metals (gold, silver), selenium, tellurium, technical sulphur, hard coal and other materials for industrial needs.MMC Norilsk Nickel is the world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the largest producers of platinum. Its market share exceeds 10% of cobalt and 3% of copper production worldwide.
