Kamchatka boosts precious metals production 50% in Jan-Sept
PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY. Dec 17 (Interfax) - Miners in Kamchatka Territory produced 3,810 kg of precious metals in the first nine months of 2012, 1,270 kg or 50% more than in the same period last year.
Gold production grew 25.5% to 1,920 kg from 1,530 kg a year earlier, silver production tripled to 1,280 kg from 410 kg and platinum production edged up to 610 kg from 600 kg, the regional government's press service reported, citing the regional natural resources ministry.
There are currently six companies that mine noble metals in Kamchatka: Koryakgeoldobycha, one of Russia's top three platinum producers, as well as Kamgold, Trevozhnoye Zarevo, Severnoye mining and exploration company, Artel Staratelei Kamchatki and Karaginskaya Mining Company.
Kamgold mined 1,130 kg of gold and 433 kg of silver at the Aginskoye deposit in the nine months. The operation employs 607 people, 60% of whom are residents of the region. The Aginskoye mining operation is very important economically and socially for the development of Kamchatka's industrial potential. The enrichment plant not processes about 150,000 tonnes of ore per year, more than its design capacity of 125,000 tonnes, and produces more than 2 tonnes of gold annually.
The regional ministry said that preparations are underway to build a mining and processing complex at the Ametistovoye gold deposit that is located in a remote part of northern Kamchatka.
Zoloto Kamchatki, a division of the Renova Group, is working on a project to mine and process gold and silver ore at the Zolotoye, Baranyevskoye, Uglovoye and Kungurtsevskoye deposits. There are plans to build plants, mines, tailings dumps and infrastructure, including roads and electricity infrastructure.
The regional ministry said five mines are to be built in Kamchatka Territory by 2023: Ametistovy in 2014, Ozernovskoye in 2014, Rodnikovy in 2016, Baranyevsky in 2017 and Kumroch in 2023. If these projects are carried out and positive macroeconomic trends continue, gold mine production could grow to 16 tonnes per year.
Zoloto Kamchatki was founded in 2007 through the spin-off of gold mining assets from CJSC Koryakgeoldobycha, according to the company's website. Zoloto Kamchatki owns 100% of shares in CJSC Kamgold, CJSC Ametistovoye, CJSC Kamchatskoye Zoloto, CJSC Bystrinskaya Mining Co. and LLC Zoloto Kamchatki Exploration. Parent company Kamgold Holdings Limited also wholly owns LLC Kamchatka Copper Company.
Zoloto Kamchatki, through subsidiaries, holds nine resource use licenses to eleven hardrock gold properties located in Kamchatka Territory, including Aginskoye, Ametistovoye and Baranyevskoye.
Zoloto Kamchatki CEO Dmitry Korobov said earlier this month that the company plans to quadruple gold production to 8 tonnes by 2017 with the launch of new projects. The company is implementing a number of investment projects, the largest of which is the construction of a mine and processing plant at the Ametistovoye deposit.
There are also plans to continue engineering surveys at the Baranyevskoye deposit next year and begin preparing the plans for building a mine and processing plant to be launched in 2017.