DUSHANBE, December 5, Asia-Plus – The Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI) expects a volume of production in the country’s mining industry to increase 17 times by 2015, an official with a MoEI said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
“The mining industry will develop, primarily, due to increase in capacities of Adrasman, Anzob and Takob ore refineries,” the source said.
Taking into consideration that the Adrasman Ore Refinery was privatized by Kazakhstan’s Investment Fund and the Takob Ore Refinery was privatized by Russia’s Region Invest and Tajikistan sold its 51 percent stake in the Tajik-U.S. joint venture Anzob Ore Refinery to U.S. Comsap, the ministry now plans to review and amend the program for development of Tajikistan’s mining industry projected for 2005-2015, the source said.
“This program provided for the launch of Tajik-Kazakh joint venture on the basis of the Adrasman Ore Refinery that would have increased production of antimony-silver concentrate from 7,953 tons in 2005 to 12,000 tons in 2015,” said the MoEI official, “But since our large mining enterprises have been privatized and the world”s top nickel producer Norislk Nickel is interested in developing Tajikistan”s Big Konimansour silver deposit the situation has changed the program should be reviewed.”
Tajikistan also plans to develop production of non-ferrous metals and semi-precious and precious stones in 2010-2015. The ministry plans to have brought annual production of semi-precious and precious stones to 42 million somonis by 2015. The volume of production of non-ferrous metals is expected to be increased 1.5 times by 2015, according to the source. An annual production of aluminum is expected to have been brought to 412,000 tons by 2015.
Tajikistan has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold. At present Tajikistan produces nearly 2.1 tons per year, most of which comes from the Jilau deposit operated by the Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC). Development of new mines will enable Tajikistan to substantially increase gold production to an annual rate of 6.9 tons in 2010 and 9.1 tons in 2015. An annual rate of silver production in Tajikistan is expected to be 22.6 tons in 2010 and 25.4 tons in 2015.
At present seven mining enterprises operate in Tajikistan: joint gold-mining ventures Zeravshan, Darvaz, and Aprelveka, ore refineries Anzob, Takob and Adrsman, as well as Altyntopkan ore administration.
