DUSHANBE, December 8, 2012, Asia-Plus — The state-owned gold mining company, Tilloi Tojik (Tajik Gold), will begin to develop a new gold deposit in Khatlon province in 2013.
A source at Tilloi Tojik says they will begin to develop the Sebi Kopa deposit in the Khovaling district next year. “Currently we are developing two areas at this deposit – Bomavlo and Safed-Dara,” said he. “Next year, we plan to begin developing a new area at this deposit.”
According to the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, Sebi Kopa is a placer gold deposit and it has possible gold reserves of two tons. According to expert estimates, one cubic meter of the deposit”s ore contains around 0.7 grams of gold.
Tilloi Tojik was established on the basis of the Darvaz gold mining joint venture, which was established in 1995. Tajikistan owned 51 percent of the shares and the UK-based Gold and Mineral Excavation held a 49% ownership interest in Darvaz. The British company was reportedly pulled out the joint venture in 2000.
Tilloi Tojik produces gold from its alluvial operation at the Yakhsou deposit, located in the Khatlon province in southern Tajikistan. It reportedly has proven reserves of around 25 tons of gold.
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.
Tajikistan, sits on the gold belt, located in Central Asia”s Tian Shen mountain range has only a small domestic market for gold, with the main buyers being the National Bank, the Treasury and a small number of jewelry makers.
Tajikistan”s gold production hit 927.9 kilogram in the first half of this year which is more than 7 kilograms from same period last year.
2.241 tons of gold and 1.664 tons of silver were produced in Tajikistan in 2011. The country expects to increase in gold production for 200 kg compared to the previous year.
Tajikistan produced 2,050 kilograms of gold in 2010, which is 690 kilograms more than in 2009. It has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold.
The largest amount of gold produced in Tajikistan was 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.
