DUSHANBE, October 22, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Over the first nine months of this year, Tajikistan has produced 1,269 kilograms of gold and 1,663 kilograms of silver, which is 457 and 628 kilograms respectively more than in the same period last year, Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali told reporters in Dushanbe today.

According to him, 812 kilograms of gold and 628 kilograms of silver were produced in Tajikistan in January-September 2009.

“In all, 1,500 kilograms of gold are expected to be produced in the country this year and probable indices for 2011 stand at 2,000 kilograms,” the minister said.

Tajikistan reportedly has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold.  The country now produces on average 1,600 kilograms of gold per year, most of which comes from the Jilau deposit operated by the Zeravshan Gold Company (Tajik-Chinese gold-mining joint venture, located in Sughd province).  The other two gold producers are the gold-mining enterprise, Tilloi Tojik (formerly JV Darvaz), which produces gold from its alluvial operation at the Yakhsou deposit, located in Khatlon province in southern Tajikistan, and Tajik-Canadian gold-mining joint venture, Aprelevka, which is engaged in mining and processing of ores at Aprelevka, Qyzyl-Cheku, Burgunda, Ekiljon and other small deposits in northern Tajikistan (Sughd province).