KHUJAND, July 23, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik-Chinese joint lead and zinc ores mining company, Tajikistan-China Mining Co Ltd, intends to increase lead an zinc ores production until the end of the year and increase the number of personnel to 700 people, Khudoinazar Yuldoshev, deputy mayor of Qairoqqum, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

Based in the settlement of Zarnisor in Sughd province, the company is currently developing the Paybulak deposit and in order to increase ore production it has launched recovery work at the Zarnisor deposit.  Upon completion of the recovery work, deep-mined output of ores will begin and 200 other people will be employed.  At present, some 500 people are working for the company.

Tajikistan-China Mining Co Ltd now mines 25,000-30,000 tons of lead and zinc ores and produces more than 4,000 tons of lead-and-zinc concentrate per month.  Over the first half-year of 2011, the company has reportedly produced more than 12,500 tons of concentrate.

The concentrate is delivered to China, where pure led and pure zinc are obtained from the concentrate, Yuldoshev said.   

According to him, development of the second (Zarnisor) deposit will allow increasing annual ore production up to one million tons.