DUSHANBE, April 29, 2014, Asia-Plus -- On Tuesday April 29, Tajik Minister of Industry and New Technologies Shavkat Bobozoda received top managers of two China’s companies, YanTai Yuancheng Gold Co., Ltd and Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.

An official source at the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT) Energy says the sides discussed issues related to cooperation in the gold mining industry.

Representatives of the Chinese companies reportedly expressed readiness to invest in enhancement of Tajikistan mining industry through making additional investments in development of the gold-mining joint venture Aprelevka.

“The Chinese companies will go shares with Central Asian Minerals and Resources PLC (CAMAR), which owns a 49 percent interest in the gold mining joint venture Aprelevka through its wholly owned subsidiary, Gulf International Minerals Limited,” the source said.

Tajikistan owns 51 percent of the shares in the company.

Aprelevka was established in the Sughd province of Tajikistan in 1995.  The mining areas where Aprelevka is licensed to operate are at Aprelevka itself, Burgunda, Kizil-Cheku, Ikkijilon and the Kansai concentrating facility and nearby mill tailings.  In December 2011, the Government of Tajikistan through the Main Geology Directorate awarded Aprelevka an additional exploration license at Dashti-Stepnoye.  Dore alloy is the finished product of this enterprise. 

YanTai Yuancheng Gold Co., Ltd is primarily engaged in real estate development and property management activities in China. It is involved in the reconstruction of old town; and development of residential communities in the urban district in Yantai in Shandong province. The company is also engaged in wholesale and retail of commodities.  YanTai Yuancheng Gold Co., Ltd. is based in Yantai, China.

Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd is a large listed company controlled by Shandong Gold Group (state-owned). It is mainly engaged in gold mining, owning a complete industry chain integrating exploration, exploitation, selection and smelting (refining), as well as gold products further processing and marketing; and meanwhile, it owns a complete matched support system combining scientific and technological R&D, engineering design, equipment manufacturing, power supply and personnel training.