
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
You are viewing the World Edition
Choose the news you want to read
View the site in World Edition, UK News Edition
Canadian News Edition or Australian News Edition

View full financial data |
Oxus Gold plc (AIM: OXS.L) (Oxus) is the only publicly listed gold mining company with primary operations inside the Republic of Uzbekistan. Founded in 1996, Oxus was listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in 2001 and is currently producing significant quantities of both gold and silver from its 50% stake in the Amantaytau Goldfields JV (AGF). Located in the Kyzylkum region of Uzbekistan, AGF is situated on one of the world’s largest areas of gold endowment, the Tien Shan belt, second only in size to that of the Witwatersrand basin. AGF also enjoys the privilege of being positioned just 40 kms south of the world’s largest single open pit gold mine at Muruntau.
Amantaytau Goldfields (AGF)
The mineral deposits of the Amantaytau area are located in the desert-like Kyzylkum Region of the Navoi Oblast. The principal town of the region is Navoi which is the largest mining town in Uzbekistan, lying some 160km to the southeast of Amantaytau. The area is connected to all major centres by paved road and railway. The deposits are situated approximately 30km south of the town of Zarafshan, and to the southwest of the gold mining complex at Muruntau. Production to date has been from the Centralny, Vysokovoltnoye and Asaukak deposits. Generally, the climate of Uzbekistan is continental and arid, with hot summers and cool winters producing a wide range in diurnal temperatures and mining is achievable year round. The topography is typically flat terrain, with gentle hills and sparse vegetation, typical of semi desert steppe.
Operations
From inception the strategic plan has been to mine out the low grade oxide ore first and then move on to the highly profitable underground high grade sulphidic ore at Centralny and Severny. The existing Centralny open pit oxide reserves are now exhausted and Asaukak oxides are close to being mined out. Production is still scheduled from the Vysokovoltnoye silver-gold heap leach deposit. It is also planned to construct new heap leach pads to produce gold from the numerous satellite oxide deposits on the mining lease. It is also planned to deepen existing Centralny pit to extract sulphide ore until the underground` ore becomes available in 2010.
Oxide Production
Oxide ore from Asaukak will in the short term continue to be fed to the existing plant The future plan is to treat the remaining lower grade oxide ores through a new one million tonnes a year gold heap leach plant from the last quarter of 2008. This will be constructed at the existing Asaukak mine and will be fed from the low grade stockpiles already mined. The heap leach plant will be semi-mobile and will be used in conjunction with the existing one million tonnes a year Vysokovoltnoye gold / silver heap leach plant over the next 20 years in order to mine out all the potential oxide reserves within the AGF licence area.
Sulphide Project
A feasibility study on the underground sulphides project was completed by Wardell Armstrong International (WAI) in September 2005 and a new base case is close to completion which will increase the gold output significantly. The bankable feasibility on the new case will be completed by WAI during the first quarter of 2008.
First gold production is expected from project in the second half of 2009 by deepening the existing Centralny open pit mine to access the sulphidic ores below the current level, while the primary underground access for Severny is being developed. The expanded pit design will incorporate access for the underground declines from the pit bottom, thereby reducing the length of the declines and allowing them to be developed in more solid ground which will reduce support costs.
The existing Phase 1 oxides plant will be modified by the addition of flotation and bio-oxidation sections to treat the sulphide ore. Construction can be undertaken without significantly affecting existing production from the oxide plant due to the modular nature of the plant modifications. Underground mining will be trackless with the ore either being trucked or conveyed to the plant. First gold production from the underground Severny mine is expected in mid 2010.

Uzbekistan; Amantaytau Goldfields
Uzbekistan; Khandiza zinc-silver deposit (Marakand Minerals Limited)
Uzbekistan; Vysokovoltnoye silver and gold deposit
| Richard Wilkins | CEO |
| Jonathan Kipps | Finance Director/Company Sectretary |
| John Donald | Chief Operating Officer |
| Oliver Prior | Non executive Director |
| Douglas Sutherland | Non executive Director |
| Gordon Wylie | Non-Executive Director |
| Miradil Djalalov | Non-executive Director |
Company Address105 Piccadilly
|
CapitalFully diluted share capital - 380,146,839 |
Annual General MeetingNovember | Year End30 June |
Nominated BrokersCanaccord Adams | Nominated AdvisorsCanaccord Adams |
25/07/06 - RBC Capital Markets
| British Empire Securities | 2.07% |
| Capital International | 4.03% |
| JP Morgan Fleming | 2.98% |
| MAED | 9.34% |
| MAED Associates | 2.5% |
| Wellington Management Company | 2.11% |
| Fidelity International Limited | 14.47% |
| RBC Precious Metals | 1.9% |
| RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund | 18% |
| L_R Global partners | 6.7% |
| Carmignac | 4% |