Tajikistan to name developer of major silver field in H2
ASTANA. April 18 (Interfax) - Tajikistan will name the winner of a tender for the rights to the Big Koni Mansur silver field in H2 2012, Azim Ibrohim, head of the Tajik government's Main Geological Directorate, told Interfax.
A consortium including Kazakhstan's Kazzinc and BHP Billion Ltd are bidding for the rights to Tajikistan's largest silver field, which is located in the Sughd region in northern Tajikistan.
"I think that according to the plan we have, a decision on the tender ought to be reached in the second half of this year," Ibrohim said on the sidelines of the Minex Central Asia forum in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Investment in the project is estimated at $2 billion-$2.5 billion. He said.
The Konimansuri Kalon (Big Koni Mansur) deposit is one of the largest silver deposits in the world. Exploration was conducted in 1970-1980s.
According to the Tajik State Committee on Property Investment, the deposit is estimated to hold 1 billion tonnes of ore graded at 49 g/t silver with lead content of 4,900 grams and zinc - 3,800 grams per tonne.
The tender was called back in 2009.