DUSHANBE, December 19, Asia-Plus – Tajik government will make a final decision on Russian Norilsk Nickel’s proposal to develop Big Konimansour silver deposit in the Sughd province in the beginning of next year, a source at the government said.
According to him, a special government commission consisting of representatives from relevant ministries and organizations is currently considering this issue. “This large-sale project requires a thorough analysis and the commission is charged to review this issue,” the source said, noting that carrying out the analysis will take at least a month.
On the Norilsk Nickel request to create a free economic zone in northern Tajikistan, the source said that there will be no problems with resolving this issue because Tajikistan itself plans to create free economic zones in Sughd, Khatlon and Gorno Badakhshan in future.
“The commission will also consider other aspects of this cooperation, including the construction of mining-metallurgy plant in the territory of the deposit and the possibility of launching a joint venture,” the source said.
We will recall that the world’s top nickel producer, Russia’s Norilsk Nickel, in late November expressed intention to develop Big Konimansour silver deposit in northern Tajikistan. MMC Norilsk Nickel Group is weighing development of Tajikistan’s largest silver deposit 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.
