CENTRAL Asia Metals (CAM) is acquiring an 80% interest in the subsoil use contract for the Shuak copper exploration property in northern Kazakhstan from local company GRK-Aksu. CAM intends to invest US$2 million in exploration activities.

PRODUCTION of the first saleable copper concentrate from sulphide ore at KAZ Minerals’ Aktogay project in Kazakhstan is expected by the end of the March quarter of 2017. The AIM-listed company is also ramping up production at Bozshakol after commissioning of the clay plant.

A VISIT by White Cliff Minerals managing director Todd Hibberd to Aucu Gold Project in the Kyrgyz Republic has resulted in visible gold being identified in a quartz outcrop. The company has planned an additional drilling program to target the quartz veins.

A NEW agreement between Cameco Corporation, Joint Stock Company National Atomic Company Kazatomprom and Joint Venture Inkai LLP will result in a restructure of JV Inkai, which operates a uranium mine in south Kazakhstan. It will result in a doubling of annual uranium production to 4000 tonnes, or 10.4 million pounds of U3O8 as well as possible construction of a uranium refinery.

THREE new mineralised zones have been identified while bulldozing roads at White Cliff Minerals’ Aucu Gold Project in the Kyrgyz Republic. The new gold zones are approximately four, seven, and seventeen metres wide and visible gold was panned from a 1kg sample taken from the widest zone.

AFTER completing a scoping study for the Taldybulak Gold-Copper Project in the Kyrgyz Republic Tengri Resources has decided not to proceed with development of the project. The decision also encompasses the nearby Andash project.

CENTERRA Gold’s Kumtor project in the Kyrgyz Republic continues to perform well with 103,701 ounces of gold produced in the quarter ending September 30, compared to 95,262 ounces in the corresponding period of 2014. The company also revised its 2015 production guidance with the lower end of the range increased by 20,000 ounces to reflect better production estimates for Kumtor and for Boroo in Mongolia.

ASSAY results from the 2015 reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at White Cliff Minerals Aucu Gold Project in the Kyrgyz Republic continue to deliver exceptional high grade gold mineralization. The best recent result was 8 metres @ 55.2 grams/tonne (g/t) gold with this hole extending the Upper Gold Zone (UGZ) by a further 300 metres along strike.

China Nonferrous Gold (CNG), formerly Kryso Resources, has successfully commissioned the processing plant at the Pakrut Gold Project in Tajikistan. This task was completed in early October with the company then proceeding to commission the smelting plant.

CENTRAL Asia Metals has been given the green light by authorities in Kazakhstan to begin an expansion project at its Kounrad copper recovery project. The approval allows the company to exploit the copper contained in the Western dumps.

CENTERRA Gold is on track to meet production guidance of between 470,000 and 520,000 ounces for 2015 at the Kumtor project in the Kyrgyz Republic following a good June quarter. Higher grades, recoveries and mill throughput enabled Centerra to produce 122,111 ounces compared to 77,860 ounces in the corresponding period of 2014.

CHINA Nonferrous Gold is on track for first production at the Pakrut Gold Project in Tajikistan during the current quarter. The company, formerly known as Kryso Resources, is targeting completion of the processing plant in September and the smelter in October. This follows delays caused by adverse weather and problems with the company’s plans to import a Chinese labour force.

AN incident at the solvent extraction (SX) section of Central Asia Metals (CAM) Kounrad copper cathode producing facility in Kazakhstan in June has led to the company reducing its production target for 2015. The target has been revised down from 13,000 tonnes of cathode copper to 12,000 tonnes.

CENTRAL Asia Resources (CVR) has received first funds from the sale of its 90% interest in the Dalabai Gold Project in southern Kazakhstan. The purchaser of the operating project is private Kazakh entity Uroven OMP LLP.

MINING focus at the Sekisovskoye Gold Project in Kazakhstan is shifting from open pit to underground mine as operator GoldBridges Global Resources seeks to boost output by 1000% by 2018. By the end of the year the company formerly known as Hambledon Mining will have closed the pit and be mining completely from underground.

A LONG awaited definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Chaarat Gold Project in the Kyrgyz Republic is largely complete with Chaarat Gold Holdings reviewing a number of processes. The company has also taken part in a successful local public hearings process.

SIGNIFICANT wide gold and copper intersections have been returned from each of the first five drill holes in a 2500 metre diamond drilling program at Tengri Resources’ Taldybulak Gold and Copper Project in the Kyrgyz Republic. Results have also confirmed that gold and copper grades increase with depth.

AUSTRALIAN mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has started exploration in Kazakhstan and is initially focusing on three sites in the Kostanai, North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions. One of the first tasks was an airborne geophysical survey.

CENTERRA Gold’s Kumtor project in the Kyrgyz Republic has received an extension to July 4 of permits for emissions into the atmosphere and waste disposal into the tailings management facility. The one-month extension was granted by the State Agency of Environmental Protection and Forestry (SAEPF), which continues to review Kumtor’s annual mine plan and has until early September to complete its review.