KYRGYZSTAN AWARDS GOLD MINING RIGHTS TO WESTERN COMPANIES.

Kyrgyzstan’s Geology Ministry announced yesterday the results of four international tenders for the exploration and development of gold and other precious ore deposits. The Cameco Corporation of Canada won the rights to the Akhzol gold deposit; a partnership comprised of Cameco and the Kyrgyzaltyn (Kyrgyz Gold) state company will develop the Bulakash and Karabulak deposits of gold and other metals; the U.S.-Israeli Apex Corporation won the rights to the Kumushtak silver deposit; and a joint venture of the U.S. company Gold Bridge and Kyrgyzaltyn will develop the Chakuz gold deposit. Four of these deposits are located in the south of Kyrgyzstan.

Cameco is already involved in developing Kumtor, Kyrgyzstan’s largest known gold deposit, and the U.S. company MK Gold and Canada’s Kilborn Engineering have drawn up plans to mine and process the Jeruy gold deposit. (Interfax, May 21; Delovaya Rossiia, May 13) Russia has proven no more capable than the former USSR of fully investigating and tapping Kyrgyzstan’s large mineral resources. The Central Asian country is currently considered the second poorest, after Tajikistan, among the former Soviet republics, but mining of its precious ore deposits holds out the promise of alleviating its situation. Kyrgyzstan will concurrently overhaul, beginning this year, the Bishkek-Osh highway to the country’s south.

Tajik Opposition Appeals for International Relief For Tavildara.