DUSHANBE, April 22, 2011, Asia-Plus — Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sehrali told reporters on April 22 that Tajikistan has produced some 360 kilograms of gold over the first thee months of this year, which is nearly 114 kilograms more than in the same period last year.
According to him, most of gold has been produced by the Tajik-Chinese joint gold mining enterprise, Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC). “ZGC has produced 271 kilograms of gold over the same three-month period,” Gul Sherali said, noting that in January-March 2010, the company produced 137 kilograms of gold.
The minister noted that modernization of ZGC was under way and the company planned to produce some 1.5 tons of gold this year.
Gul Sherali stressed that Tajikistan planned to produce up to 3 tons of gold this year. In 2010, the country produced 2,050 kilograms of gold.
The minister of energy and industries added that Tajikistan has produced 296 kilograms of silver over the first quarter of this year, which was 28 kilograms more than in the same period last year.
Tajikistan reportedly has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold. The largest amount of gold was produced in Tajikistan in 1998 – 3,000 kilograms, while in recent years, the country has produced not more than 1,800 kilograms. Most of gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by ZGC.
Three large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik; Tajik-Chinese JV Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC); and Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka. Besides, the private gold mining artel, Odina, operates in Khatlon province.
