DUSHANBE, December 15, 2009, Asia-Plus – Nine companies are participating in a tender for development of the Konimansuri Kalon (Big Konimansur) silver deposit in Tajikistan’s Sughd province, Davlatali Saidov, the head of the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
“Among them are seven foreign companies and two Tajik enterprises, namely BHP Billiton (Australia), Kazakhstan’s Consortium JSC Konimansur and Kaztsink, Zijin Mining Group, Kaidi and JNMC from China, Yildizlar Holding and Demir Export AS from Turkey, and Tajikistan’s Tojikgidrospetsstroy and Tojikgidrotunnelstroy,” he said.
Saidov added that Russia’s Obyedinennaya Zolotaya Kompaniya (United Gold Company) had also lodged application for participation in the tender but it had been received with a delay. “Therefore, the application of this company will be considered by members of the Consultative Council separately,” the GosKomInvest head noted.
According to him, only three companies will be put on the short list of candidates for development of the Big Konimansur deposit. The short list will be submitted for confirmation to the government until the end of January 2010. “In February 2010, a database will be created for companies put on the short list and after that, request for proposal (RFP) will be sent to investors,” Saidov said.
We will recall that the Government of Tajikistan has appointed International Finance Corporation (IFC) to be the lead advisor in selecting a private investor to develop the Big Konimansur mine’s silver deposits project, which is expected to generate significant benefits for the country.
The infrastructure advisory agreement signed on March 12, 2009 presents an opportunity to develop a project that possibly holds one of the world’s larger silver deposits and could help strengthen Tajikistan’s fiscal resources. IFC is committed to ensuring a transparent and competitive process for the selection of a developer. The project is a key part of the government’s strategy to attract private investment and introduce best practices in procurement. Although Tajikistan has rich deposits of minerals, its remote geographic location and low levels of foreign investment have impeded the development of the mining sector.
The Big Konimansur in Asht region is estimated to contain around 1 billion tons of ore and according to expert estimates, one ton of the deposit”s ore contained around 49 grams of silver, with 0.38 percent zinc and 0.49 percent lead.
