DUSHANBE, January 15, 2014, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan is currently seeking investors for development of fifteen gold deposits, Murod Jumayev, the head of the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, told journalists in Dushanbe on January 14.
According to him, these deposits are located in northern Tajikistan and the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and their aggregate possible gold reserves are estimated at some 400 tons.
“Tajik geologists are currently carrying out exploration operations at the Tutmazor gold field in the northern Sughd province,” Jumayev said, noting that they will submit report on possible gold reserve of the Tutmazor filed for consideration to the government by the end of 2014.
The Main Geology Directorate Scientific and Technical Council has considered feasibility studies for estimation of reserves of the Taror gold deposit, which is located 44 kilometers of Panjakent, and Zarnisor lead and zinc deposit, Tajik chief geologists added.
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 reportedly has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the largest amount of gold was produced in Tajikistan in 1998 – 3,000 kilograms. Most of gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by (ZGC.
