Tajikistan reduces gold production 14% in H1
DUSHANBE. July 22 (Interfax) - Gold production in Tajikistan declined 14.3% to 600 kilograms in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period of 2008, Tajik Energy and Industry Minister Makhmadsharif Khakdodov said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Silver production fell 10.5% to 657 kilograms in the half.
"The decline in the extraction and production of precious metals is connected with the reconstruction of the Zeravshan joint venture that began in February 2009," he said.
Tajikistan boosted silver concentrate output 190% to 3,100 kilograms in the period.
The Zeravshan joint venture, in which China's ZiJin Mining Group Co. Ltd. owns 75% and the Tajik government controls 25%, accounts for 90% of precious metals production in Tajikistan.