Tajikistan plans to double gold mining before yearend.

DUSHANBE, July 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Tajikistan reports a steady tendency to step up its gold mining. The country's gold output has exceeded 740 kilograms since the beginning of the year, Tajikistani First Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry Khairullo Makhmadaliyev told a news conference.

In his words, the country plans to increase gold mining to 1,700
kilograms by the end of the year, which will be almost 100 percent more
than in 2009.
Three big companies are involved in the gold mining in Tajikistan,
Makhmadaliyev said, adding that Zarafshon is one of the above-mentioned
companies. China's national corporation Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd. holds a
75-percent stake in that Tajikistani company.
According to the first deputy minister, miners of the Zarafshon
company produced 446.5 kilograms of gold in the first half of the year.
While expanding its activities, Zarafshon simultaneously makes
investments in the creation of its own refining facilities.
Currently, former USSR defence enterprise Vostokredmet is involved in
the gold and silver refining in the country.
"According to the majority shareholders, the Zarafshon company will
raise its gold production to 4,000 tonnes a year by 2015," Makhmadaliyev
said.
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