DUSHANBE, July 18, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The state-owned gold mining company, Tilloi Tojik (Tajik Gold), is expected to begin commercial production of gold at the Sebi Kopa deposit that is located in the Khovaling district, Khatlon province next month, an official source at Tilloi Tojik told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The source says test production of gold at the Sebi Kopa deposit started in summer 2013.

According to the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, Sebi Kopa is a placer gold deposit and it has possible gold reserves of two tons.  According to expert estimates, one cubic meter of the deposit''s ore contains around 0.7 grams of gold.

Tilloi Tojik was established on the basis of the Darvaz gold mining joint venture, which was established in 1995.  Tajikistan owned 51 percent of the shares and the UK-based Gold and Mineral Excavation held a 49% ownership interest in Darvaz.  The British company was reportedly pulled out the joint venture in 2000.

Tilloi Tojik produces gold from its alluvial operation at the Yakhsou deposit, located in the Khatlon province in southern Tajikistan.  It reportedly has proven reserves of around 25 tons of gold.

Tajikistan reportedly has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold.

Three large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik; Tajik-Chinese JV Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC); and Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka.  Besides, the private gold mining artel, Odina, operates in Khatlon province.

In 2010, Tajikistan produced 2,050 kilograms of gold, which was 690 kilograms more than in 2009. Tajikistan produced 2,240.10 kilograms of gold in 2011 and more than 2,400 kilograms in 2012.  Last year, Tajikistan produced 2,674.4 kilograms of gold.  Most of gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by ZGC.

In 2013, ZGC produced 1,694.76 kilograms of gold, Aprelevka – 516.74 kilograms, Tilloi Tojik – 394.90 kilograms, and Odina – 167.62 kilograms.