NATURAL RESOURCES

The depths of Tajikistan contain almost all elements of the periodic table and are the unique store of minerals. Today Tajikistan has discovered, prospected and prepared for development 400 ore and other minerals deposits.

Tajikistan is referred to the category of countries having considerable deposits of precious metals.

There are a few gold and ore deposits in Zaravshan Valley (Chore, Shahbas, Kum-manor), which are aimed to ensure a long-term operation of gold-mining enterprises. According to the data provided by the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, today there are 28 deposits of gold on the territory of Tajikistan with a general capacity amounting to about 429,3 tons.

Bolshoy Konimansur, which is the second largest deposit of silver in the world, is located in the north of the country, on the territory of Sugd region. If Tajikistan produces up to 50 tons of silver annually, the silver reserves shall be still sufficient for more than 150 years.

Tajikistan holds the first place amongst the CIS countries for its reserves of antimony. The largest deposit of antimony is “Skalnoye” (over 50% of the CIS reserves of antimony). Apart from antimony and mercury reserves, there are 214 deposits of other natural resources in Sugd region, such as: lead and zinc (16 deposits), copper and bismuth (3), molybdenum and wolframite (1), strontium (2), iron (3), gold (15), silver (7), tin (1), coal (11), oil and gas (11), fluorspar (5), rock-salt (1) and etc. The mining area Uchkado is unique for its content of gold, silver, lead, zinc and antimony. According to preliminary calculations, the estimate value of the hidden ores of metals exceeds 10 billion US dollars. There is no other deposit of that kind elsewhere in the world.

In the north of Tajikistan there are inexhaustible deposits of minerals used as construction and decoration materials: marble, granite, volcanic tuff, limestone, mineral springs. Out of non-ore natural resources the most perspective and valuable are Kshut-Zauranskoye and Fan-Yagnobskoye coal-mining areas. This coal can be used to produce the cheapest liquid and gaseous fuel. The coal reserves in here are sufficient for about 200 years.

In Central Tajikistan, 95 km away from Dushanbe, there is a wolframite mining area called “Maikhura”. It is possible to establish a profitable enterprise with a production capacity of up to 150 thousand tons of ore per year.

Four deposits of very rare metal strontium have been prospected in Khatlon oblast. The salts of strontium are widely used in metallurgy, atomic, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The aggregate reserves of ores, which contain strontium, at the deposits Chaltash, Daudir, Chilkutan may allow to establish a large mining enterprise with a mining capacity totaling 180 thousand tons of ore per year. This region is also known for its large deposits of lead and zinc. The largest deposit, Baldjuvan, is reported to have aggregate reserves of lead and zinc totaling 1,2 million tons each.

The essential reserves of rock-salt are concentrated in the south of the country. The mining capacity of Khodja-Mumin, Khodja-Sartez, Tanabchi and Samanchi deposits amounts to tens billions tons.

Mauntainous Badakhshan (MBAR) is a mountainous area with severe climatic and natural conditions. The deposits of gold, silver, copper, wolframite, mica and gems have been discovered and prospected here.

ENERGY SECTOR

According to the information provided by a well-known edition, the World Atlas HYDROPOWER & DAMS (1997), Tajikistan takes the first place in the world for its hydropower resources (specific parameters) and according to the absolute parameters (300 billion kWt/h per year) – the eighth place. Should they be used in full volume, the Republic can become the largest electricity exporter in the region, Despite availability of a considerable amount of energy resources, the country still experiences a significant energy deficiency (up to 600 million kWt/h per year), basically in winter period.

OIL AND GAS COMPLEX

In 1985 the rate of production for oil totaled 389 thousand tons and for gas – 309 million m3. By 1996 the oil production rate decreased by more than 10 times (26 thousand tons) and gas – by more than 6 times (47 million m3).

However, there are good perspectives for rehabilitation and development of oil and gas complex of the republic, which has significant reserves of hydrocarbon. By January 1, 1997 the aggregate reserves of hydrocarbon amounted to 1.033,76 million tons of ideal/conventional fuel. According to expert prognosis Tajikistan is supposed to have the following reserves amounting to 113,1 million tons of oil, 863 billion m3 of gas and 36 million tons of gas condensate. About 80,8% of all oil and gas reserves are concentrated in the south-western part of Tajikistan, the rest 19,2% are deposited in the north of the country.

Today, the following mining areas are considered as the most perspective ones:

• Eastern Suletau area in the north of Tajikistan having prospective reserves of oil amounting to 20,5 million tons and gas - 14,3 billion m3;

• Rengan area in the southwest of Tajikistan having prospective reserves of gas amounting to 50 billion m3;

• Kashakum area in the southwest of Tajikistan with prospective reserves of oil amounting to 4,9 million tons;

• Eastern Olimtoy area in the southwest of Tajikistan with prospective reserves

of oil amounting to 3,9 million tons;

• Yalgizkak area in the southwest of Tajikistan with prospective reserves of gas amounting to 20 billion m3;

• Sargazon area in the southwest of Tajikistan having gas reserves amounting to 30 billion m3;

Here, the main problems are deep bedding of raw materials and lack of a strategic investor.

AGRICULTURE

Tajikistan is an agrarian country. The priority agrarian branches are cotton- growing, vegetable-growing, stock-raising, beekeeping and processing of vegetables, fruit, wool and leather.

While applying modern technologies and using special equipment to process and pack these products the export capacities of the Republic will increase significantly.