DUSHANBE, April 13, 2001, Asia-Plus  -- The Government of Tajikistan has revoked mining licenses from two foreign companies that failed to begin prospecting and exploration work during a year after getting the licenses, Azim Ibrohim, Chairman of the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 12.

Mr. Ibrohim refrained from naming the companies.  He added that judicial decision on revocation of mining license from one more company would be made within the next few days following an application by the Main Geology Directorate.

“These companies were granted licenses for prospecting for and exploration of mineral resources in the country but they failed to begin prospecting and exploration work during a year after getting the licenses,” Tajik official said.

According to him, the Main Geology Directorate plans to apply to relevant structures for revocation of licenses from four other companies.  “Among them are the Kazakh company, Sinergy, which was granted license for exploration of the marble deposit in the Darvoz district (Gorno Badakhshan), and three Tajik limited liability companies, including Avesta (license for exploration of the talc deposit in the Ishkashim district, Gorno Badakhshan), Nourafzoi Shirin (license for exploration of coalfield in the Jirgatol district), and Saymiri (license for exploration of coalfield in the Fayzobod district),” Ibrohim said.

Over the period of Tajikistan’s independence, the Main Geology Directorate has granted 200 licenses for exploration of mineral resources and 68 licenses for prospecting for mineral resources, he said.