DUSHANBE, July 14, 2013, Asia-Plus — The fall in the international gold prices has affected operation of gold mining companies in Tajikistan.
“We cannot reach net profit because the international price for one gram of gold has fallen over the past six months from 55.00 USD to 39.00 USD,” Sohibnazar Pirov, the deputy director of the Tajik-Canadian gold-mining joint venture, Aprelevka, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, increase in the price for one ounce of gold from 1,281 USD to 1,800 USD will make gold production profitable.
“The international gold prices have shown fluctuating tendencies in recent years and the gold price will probably begin to rise again,” Pirov said.
“If we had had support from our Canadian investor, we might not have been faced with such difficulties,” the deputy director added.
The Tajik-Canadian gold-mining joint venture Aprelevka was established in the Sughd province of Tajikistan in 1995. The company is engaged in mining and processing of ores at Aprelevka, Kyzyl-Cheku, Burgunda, Ekiljon and other small deposits in northern Tajikistan. Dore alloy is the finished product of this enterprise. Tajikistan owns 51 percent of the shares and the Canadian side assumes the 49% ownership interest in the joint-stock company Aprelevka.
Meanwhile Tajikistan reportedly plans to produces some 2,500 kilograms of gold this year.
Last year, Tajikistan produced 2,400.9 kilograms of gold, which was 160.80 kilograms more than in 2011.
Tajikistan 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. Most of gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by Tajik-Chinese joint venture, Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC).
Three large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik; Tajik-Chinese JV Zeravshan Gold Company; and Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka. Besides, the private gold mining artel, Odina, operates in Khatlon province.
