Over the first ten months of this year, gold producing companies operating in Tajikistan have produced 2,120 kilograms of gold, which was 220 kilograms or 23.7 percent more than in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI).

Specialists from a MoEI say that this year Tajik gold mining companies can bring annual gold production up to 3,000 kilograms and annual silver production up to 2,000 kilograms.

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 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.

Over the same ten-month period, Tajikistan has reportedly produced 13,500 tons of antimonial concentrate, 9,900 kilograms of silver and mercury concentrate, 26,900 kilograms of mercury concentrate and 48,200 kilograms of zinc concentrate.

Over the report period investments in Tajikistan’s mining industry totaled 229.3 million somoni, including 142.8 million invested in the Zeravshan Gold Company, 13.4 million somoni invested in Tajik-Chinese Mining Company, 15.1 million somoni invested in  Pakrut Gold Mine, 5.6 million somoni invested in Takob Ore Refinery, and 17 million somoni invested in the gold mining company Odina.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan has reportedly reduced export of precious and semiprecious stones and metals by 28.9 percent over the first nine months of this year.

According to the statistical data from the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, Tajikistan has exported precious and semiprecious stones and metals for a total amount of more than 55.1 million U.S. dollars in January-September this year, which was more than 6.6 million U.S. dollars fewer than in the same period last year.