DUSHANBE, February 15, 2012, Asia-Plus — Only 11.9 percent of geological information in Tajikistan is now under “classified” stamp, an official source at the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus today commenting on reports released by some local media outlets.
The media outlets have reported that it is very difficult to get geological information because of the “classified” stamp.
The source says that under the country’s legislation, all the information about minerals and deposits of Tajikistan is stored in the State Geological Fund of Tajikistan.
“Tajikistan’s law on mineral resources adopted in 1994 has a number of controversial points connected with planned economy, which is legacy of the Soviet Union,” said the source. “Therefore, amendments have been made to the law several times. Thus, under Article 10 of the Law only state-run enterprises had the right to develop radioactive raw materials. Later, this limitation was lifted.”
He noted that confidentiality of a part of information about minerals and deposits is not impediment to attraction of investments. “Information about one of world’s largest silver deposits was under the “top secret” stamp, but when on president’s initiative an international tender was announced for development of this deposit, all the geological information about it has been made available to companies participating in the tender,” the source said.
Over the past five years, the State Geological Information Fund has reportedly made available 597 reports about deposits of mineral resources to citizens and organizations. To-date, 321 licenses have been granted; 248 of the have been granted for development of deposits and 73 others have been granted for exploration operations.
According to the Main Geology Directorate, thousands of reports and documents about mineral resources of Tajikistan (maps, graphic materials, etc) are kept at the State Geological Information Fund. Of them, 21.8 percent were under the “classified” and “top secret” stamps; in the process of studying these materials, 9.92 percent of them have been declassified and at present only 11.9 percent of reports and documents are under the “classified” stamp.
