Kentor Gold has made steady progress with its exploration activities in the Kyrgyz Republic .

Three field parties are now deployed on several priority project areas including the flagship Akbel-Bashkol licences following up previously defined attractive gold-copper targets.

At Akbel continuing challenging drilling conditions have delayed the company's initial drill testing of a number of high-potential geochemical and geophysical targets under moraine cover.

Following a suspension of drilling for five weeks to enable expert assessment and appropriate equipment to be assembled for a more refined drilling technique, drilling at Akbel restarted on July 20.

It is Kentor's intention that the planned six hole diamond drill program will be completed by the end of this year.

Examination of the best prospects in the Talas-Kemin group of tenements has not identified any targets indicative of a medium-sized, gold-enriched porphyry or orogenic gold system.

Accordingly the Uzunbulak, Karabalta and Barkol prospects will be farmed-out or relinquished by the end of the year as will the Kyldoo Licence following the withdrawal of Perseus from the Kyldoo joint venture during the quarter.

These evaluations and decisions have provided Kentor the opportunity to focus most of its effort this summer field season on its core Akbel-Bashkol licences, with an ongoing low-key reconnaissance program in the Alai Valley that has the potential to generate new projects prospective for large mineralised gold and gold-copper systems.

Negotiations with the local Jety Oguz municipality for land access permits for Akbel and Bashkol licences have been successfully completed. Licence Agreements #2 for Za-alai (165sqkm) and East Koksu (175sqkm) have been issued and access agreements finalised.