Over the first six months of this year, Tajikistan has increased production of gold and silver by 7.1 and 7.2 percent respectively produced, according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT).
The ministry does not indicate the volumes of production of these precious metals.
As far as gold and silver production growth rates are concerned, they have declined significantly compared to the previous years.
A MoINT had previously noted that over the past five years, the gold production growth rate had stood on average at 20 percent. The authorities reportedly plan to keep the gold production in the coming years at the same rate.
An official at the MoINT says Tajikistan has all necessary conditions to increase production of gold due to implementation of large investment projects.
In recent year, gold production has increased in Tajikistan more than four times – from 2 tons in 2014 to nearly 8.1 tons in 2019.
In 2018, Tajikistan produced about 6.5 tons of gold. Tajikistan produced 5,500 kilograms of gold in 2017 and 5,000 kilograms of gold in 2016. In 2015, Tajikistan produced about 4,200 kilograms of gold, which was nearly 32 percent more than in 2014. In 2014, Tajikistan produced about 3,200 kilograms of gold.
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 (Pakrut Gold Project). 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 81 percent of the total amount of gold produced in Tajikistan.
The Pakrut Gold Project reportedly accounts for 13 percent of the total amount of gold produced in the country.
