DUSHANBE, July 6, Asia-Plus — One of China’s companies has shown interest in investing in development of the Altyntopkan mine in the Tajik northern province of Sughd.
Bakhtiyor Sharipov, the head of the precious metals and metallurgy department of the Ministry of Industry, has told Asia-Plus that Chinese specialists already studied infrastructure and state of the mine. According to him, they have already worked out a business-plan on drumming up US$30 million in rehabilitation of the mine and stage-by-stage construction of ore separating factory with further bringing of its capacity to production of some one million tons of ore a year.
“Chinese investors intend to resume operation of the Altyntopkan mine in 2? years after getting license for development of the deposit,” said the Asia-Plus interlocutor, “After that, the Chinese side intends to build a metallurgical plant, which will produce metal zinc and lead, as well as using new technologies extract accompanying elements, in form of gold and silver, which are to be found at this deposit.”
Tajik experts hold that with the construction of the ore separating factory with capacity of production of 250,000 tons of ore a year there will be an opportunity to bring its capacity up to 500,000-700,000 tons even one million tons of ore a year.
According to the source, more than 400 deposits have been prospected in Tajikistan for gold, silver, antimony, iron, precious stones and metals. The deposits are located in remote mountain areas, and to develop them Tajikistan has to construct infrastructure, first of all, automotive roads and railways.
At present seven large enterprises, such as joint ventures “Zarafshan”, “Darvoz”, “Aprelevka” and “Anzob”, as well as ore refineries Takob and Adrasman, and the Altyntopkan mine, are engaged in development of natural resources in Tajikistan.
