Tajikistan intends to increase production of precious metals (gold and silver) this year. Compared to last year production of silver has reportedly increased nearly twice as much.
According to statistical data from the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT), Tajikistan last year produced 5 tons of gold, which was 500 kilograms more compared to 2015.
The Tajik-Chinese joint venture (JV), Zarafshon, produced 3,300 kilograms of gold last year, state-run enterprise Tilloi Tojik – 570 kilograms, Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka – 590 kilograms, and the remaining amount of gold was produced last year by a number of local small gold mining enterprises.
Meanwhile, China Nonferrous Gold Limited, the first foreign company to obtain 100% ownership of a mining and exploration project in Tajikistan, which is currently mining the Pakrut Gold Project in Tajikistan, is expected to produce 500 kilograms of gold this year.
Over the first eight months of this year, production of gold has increased by 21 percent, a source at MoINT said.
As far as production of silver is concerned, Tajikistan last year produced 3,200 kilograms of silver, which was 200 kilograms more compared to 2015. 98 percent of Tajikistan silver is reportedly exported to the European countries.
Over the first eight months of this year, production of silver has reportedly increased by 92 percent, the source added.
Tajikistan has 137 deposits with estimated reserves of industrial gold and 127 deposits of non-industrial gold. Tajikistan plans to increase annual production of gold to 17 tons beginning on 2022.
Four large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik; Tajik-Chinese JV Zarafshon; Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka; and China Nonferrous Gold Limited, which is the first foreign company to obtain 100% ownership of a mining and exploration project in Tajikistan. Besides, enterprises such as Odina, Nazira, Ganj, Barakat and Istiqlol are engaged in gold production in the country.
Most of gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by Tajik-Chinese joint venture, Zarafshon, which reportedly accounts for more than 70 percent of the total amount of gold produced in Tajikistan.
