KHUJAND (Avesta news agency) – A plant with the capacity of processing 50,000 tons of lead and 50,000 tons of zinc per year will be built in Sughd by Tajik-Sino Mining Company. The lead-processing workshops are expected to be introduced into operation in 2016 and the zinc-processing workshops will follow.

Khujand governor Abdurahmon Qodiri last Monday received En Jee Sai director of Tajik-Sino Mining Company who informed governor about the Company’s activities. Construction of metallurgical plant in the city of Istiqlol (former Taboshar) was reportedly a major topic of the meeting. Chinese specialists are reportedly taking measures to upgrade the enterprise.

China Global LTD purchased the Altyn-Topkan mine by auction and the limited liability company, Tajik-Sino Mining Company, was established in 2006. The company with an authorized capital stock of 103.2 mln somoni was registered with the Ministry of Justice on October 1, 2007.

Conforming to an agreement signed between Tajik Ministry of Energy and Industries and China Global LTD, the Chinese company has invested $30 mln in construction of an ore-dressing plant and development of Pay-Buloq and Altyn-Topkan deposits in 2007-2010. The first line of the ore-dressing plant was introduced into operation in June 2009.

Tajik-Sino Mining Company is located in Zarnisor, a locality subordinate to the city of Qairoqqum, Sughd province. 1,682 people, including 104 Tajik nationals, work for Tajik-Sino Mining Company at an average monthly wage of 2,170 somoni. The enterprise was granted licenses for development of the lead and zinc deposits Altyn-Topkan and Pay-Buloq.