KHUJAND, June 23, 2009, Asia-Plus -- President Emomali Rahmon is expected to inaugurate an ore-dressing plant at the Tajik-Chinese Mining Company in the settlement of Altyn Topkan (Qairoqqum) tomorrow, according to the Sughd administration’s press service.

The first line of this concentrating mill was supposed to be introduced into operation in September 2008 but because of last year’s devastating earthquake in China and the Beijing Olympic Games the introduction of the first line into operation was postponed.

The plant’s first line has the capacity of processing 300,000 tons of lead and zinc per year, and the plant’s total rated capacity is 1 million tons of ore per year.   

China’s company, China Global LTD, purchased the Altyn Topkan mine by auction and the limited liability company, The Tajik-Chinese Mining Company, was established on the basis of the mine.  The company with an authorized fund of 103.2 million somoni was registered with the Ministry of Justice on October 1, 2007.

According to an agreement signed between Tajik Ministry of Energy and Industries and China Global LTD, the Chinese company invests 30 million U.S. dollars in construction of the ore-dressing plant and development of Paybuloq and Altyn Topkan deposits in 2007-2010.  The plant will produce lead-and-zinc concentrate.

After bringing metal extraction to 1 million tons per year, China Global LTD intends to introduce into operation an enterprise for final ore processing.

According to the Qairoqqum mayor’s office, 283 people, including 162 local specialists, currently work for the Tajik-Chinese Mining Company at an average monthly wage of 1,064 somoni.