Gold - The Times Of Central Asia

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Mining Investment

Kazakhstan’s Solidcore to Invest $25 Million in Japan Gold Exploration

Solidcore Resources, a leading Kazakhstan-based gold producer, is expanding into exploration in Japan. The company will invest $25 million in gold exploration across five project areas on the islands of Hokkaido and Kyushu, with the option to acquire interests of up to 80% in individual projects if exploration proves successful. Solidcore has partnered with Canada-based Japan Gold Corp., a company focused on mineral exploration in Japan. It has also acquired an 18.81% stake in Japan Gold for $6.85 million. If it exercises warrants allowing it to buy additional shares, its interest could rise to 19.9% on a partially diluted basis. Solidcore produces gold in Kazakhstan, and its shares are traded on the Astana International Exchange. In 2025, the company produced 395,000 ounces of gold equivalent, 19% less than a year earlier. Higher gold prices nevertheless pushed revenue up 13% to $1.5 billion. The partnership covers Hakuryu, Bajo, Mizobe, Ryuo, and Aibetsu, five of Japan Gold’s project areas. Three are on Hokkaido and two on Kyushu. Several are close to historic gold mines, while much of the surrounding territory remains underexplored using modern methods. At Hakuryu, drilling has already identified zones of high-grade gold mineralization. Geophysical surveys at Bajo detected anomalies interpreted as possible extensions of mineralized structures, with strike lengths of more than one kilometer. Mizobe lies in an area with geology similar to Hishikari, Japan’s largest commercially operating gold mine, which produced around 9 million ounces of gold between 1985 and 2025. Ryuo and Aibetsu include areas of historic mining. The Tokusei mine within Aibetsu produced 39,000 ounces of gold and 473,000 ounces of silver between 1930 and 1942. Solidcore CEO Vitaly Nesis said the company was attracted by the potential for large-scale gold discoveries and Japan’s relatively limited modern exploration. “Japan Gold’s license portfolio stands out to us. It has the makings of a large-scale, generational gold district with a distinctive style of geology that we have been historically successfully working with, in a stable, well-regulated, developed and notably under-explored jurisdiction,” Nesis said. Japan Gold holds mineral rights covering more than 3,000 square kilometers. In addition to the five project areas included in the agreement, it retains another 22 projects. The $25 million will fund drilling and other exploration work over three years rather than the purchase of developed deposits. After completing the program, Solidcore will be able to select the most promising areas and earn a 49% direct interest in one or more of them. If further studies indicate that mining could be economically viable, Solidcore will have the option to increase its interest first to 70% and then to 80%. To do so, it will have to fund a pre-feasibility study and then a bankable feasibility study for each selected project. Japan Gold Chairman and CEO John Proust said Solidcore’s strategy of expanding its reserves through geographic diversification fits with his company’s work building an exploration portfolio in Japan. The deal marks an overseas expansion for a major Kazakhstan-based gold producer. Within Kazakhstan, exploration and reassessment...

Gold

Kyrgyz Jewelers to Receive Discounted Gold as Government Expands Industry Support

Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a package of support measures for the jewelry industry, implementing a directive from President Sadyr Japarov aimed at improving producers’ access to raw materials. Earlier, Japarov instructed the government to ensure that jewelers could obtain raw materials from the State Fund of Precious Metals and Precious Stones on more favorable terms. Under the new resolution, Kyrgyz jewelry manufacturers will be able to purchase domestically produced gold from the state at a 2% discount to the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) fixing price. The State Fund will supply precious metals to jewelers in raw form, without the right of resale. To purchase gold, companies must either sign a direct contract with the fund or acquire the metal through a commodity exchange. Jewelers will also be granted deferred payment terms of up to 180 days. Transactions will be conducted at market prices in the national currency, the som. Access to gold scrap and refined bullion will be limited to companies operating under a special tax regime, with confirmed production capacity and compliance with requirements for accounting and the targeted use of raw materials. In addition, the government has approved a preferential lending mechanism for the jewelry sector. Authorities will subsidize interest rates on loans issued by state-owned banks, with approximately $11.5 million allocated to the program. The maximum loan amount will be $1 million, with a term of up to 60 months. The interest rate is set at 6% per annum, with a possible payment deferral of up to 180 days. Funds may be used for production modernization, equipment purchases, and the upgrading of manufacturing facilities. Eligible borrowers include legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered with the State Tax Service. “The implementation of these initiatives will create a sustainable foundation for the development of the jewelry industry and increase its contribution to the national economy,” the Ministry of Economy and Commerce said in a statement, adding that the measures are expected to reduce costs, expand production, and create jobs. Stalbek Akmatov, head of the Kyrgyz Jewelers Association, told The Times of Central Asia that the industry had been advocating for such measures for many years. According to him, local producers were previously forced to purchase domestic gold at prices about 5% above London market levels, making imports from Russia and Turkey more common, despite higher logistics costs. “Now the situation will change, and the industry has real prospects for development,” Akmatov said.

Gold

Uzbekistan’s International Reserves Decline After Seven Months of Growth

Uzbekistan’s gold and foreign currency reserves declined in March after seven consecutive months of growth, according to data released by the Central Bank. As of April 1, the country’s total international reserves stood at more than $68.99 billion, marking a monthly decrease of over $8.09 billion, or around 10%. The Central Bank attributed the drop primarily to a fall in global gold prices during March, when the price per ounce declined from $5,174.1 to $4,553.95. Gold remains the largest component of Uzbekistan’s reserves. Its total value fell by $6.82 billion to $60.85 billion, ending an eight-month growth streak. At the same time, the physical volume of gold held by the Central Bank continued to increase, rising by 0.3 million troy ounces to reach 13.4 million troy ounces, or approximately 416.8 tons. Foreign currency reserves also declined over the same period. In March, they dropped by $1.26 billion, or 14.3%, to $7.57 billion. Of this amount, $1.3 billion is held in foreign central banks and the International Monetary Fund, while $4.71 billion is deposited in foreign commercial banks. In addition, the value of foreign securities purchased by the Central Bank reached $1.545 billion, accounting for 2.24% of total reserves. The latest figures follow a period of strong growth in Uzbekistan’s reserves. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the country’s international reserves rose sharply in 2025, increasing by $25.1 billion to reach a record $66.3 billion as of January 1, 2026. This growth, equivalent to a 61% increase over the year, was largely driven by high global gold prices, alongside gains in foreign currency holdings.

gold trading

Digital Gold Trading Launches on Kyrgyz Stock Exchange

On April 3, the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange, Kyrgyzaltyn, and Central Depository CJSC signed an agreement enabling the purchase and sale of precious metals, particularly gold. The initiative aims to provide equal access to exchange-based gold trading for all categories of investors. The exchange will ensure automated and transparent transactions, with prices formed in real time based on supply and demand. Participants in the trading include commercial banks, jewelry and brokerage firms, and other entities registered with the Department of Precious Metals under the Ministry of Finance. “Using exchange infrastructure automates processes and guarantees equal access to the asset for all categories of investors,” said Aida Chodulova, CEO of the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange. She added that gold will function as both a digital and physical asset, with transactions recorded in the exchange’s automated system. Officials say the platform will allow investors to trade gold without the need for physical transportation, while also offering a tool for long-term capital preservation. Gold remains Kyrgyzstan’s main export commodity. In 2025, the country exported 6.2 tons of gold worth $682.8 million, according to preliminary data cited by local media. According to the Ministry of Economy, gold accounted for nearly 24% of total exports. The country’s largest deposit, Kumtor, is located in the Issyk-Kul Region at an altitude of about 4,000 meters. It is one of the world’s largest gold deposits and was nationalized in 2021 after previously being owned by Centerra Gold. The mine is operated by Kumtor Gold Company, which is fully owned by Kyrgyzaltyn. In 2025, the company produced 12,081 kg of gold, generated $1.434 billion in revenue, and reported net profit of more than $706 million, while paying $246.5 million in taxes and other payments.

Middle East

Middle East Conflict May Slow Growth, but Gold and Oil Dynamics Could Cushion Impact

The escalating conflict in the Middle East could weigh on Uzbekistan’s economic growth if it persists, though higher gold prices and oil-driven gains in key partner economies may soften the impact, according to Uzbek economist Mirkomil Kholboyev. Kholboyev shared his analysis on his Telegram channel, examining both the direct and indirect channels through which the crisis could affect Central Asia’s largest economy. “Several days of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have already turned into open military confrontation,” he wrote. “It is still difficult to say how long this situation will last. If it is short-term and the previous status quo is restored, the impact on our economy will likely be limited and temporary. But if the war continues for a longer period, the consequences could be more significant.” Direct trade exposure appears limited. According to data from Uzbekistan’s national statistics portal, the country exported $157 million worth of goods to Iran in 2025, accounting for just 0.5% of total exports. Imports from Iran totaled $421 million, or 0.9% of overall imports. Trade with Israel was even smaller, with exports of $33 million and imports of $22 million. “Even a complete halt in trade with these countries would not significantly affect total exports,” Kholboyev wrote, though he noted that export and import growth could slow. Iran also plays a role as a transit hub. Its ports are part of broader regional logistics networks, including the Central Asia-India corridor via Chabahar and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). According to a regional analytical report, Uzbekistan accounts for 5.5% of total traffic along this route, compared with 61.1% for Kazakhstan and 29.4% for Turkmenistan. Kholboyev pointed out that while some of Uzbekistan’s trade passes through Iranian ports, the country is less dependent on them than other Central Asian countries. Still, he cautioned that prolonged fighting would inevitably disrupt both direct trade and transit flows. “I do not have precise data on how much of our total foreign trade passes specifically through Iranian ports,” he wrote. “That makes it difficult to assess the full effect. But if the war continues, both direct trade and transit through Iran will suffer serious damage.” Even if trade with the wider region, including Iran and other countries affected by hostilities, were to stop entirely, Kholboyev estimates the impact would remain moderate. The region accounts for about 2.4% of Uzbekistan’s exports and 1.5% of imports. A complete halt could slow export growth by roughly 3% and imports by about 2.5%, reducing overall GDP growth by around 0.6 percentage points. A 50% reduction in trade with the region would shave an estimated 0.2-0.3 percentage points off GDP growth. Energy markets represent a more significant risk channel. As trading resumed after the latest escalation, global oil prices rose by about 9%, driven by concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passes. “If tensions escalate further and oil flows are restricted, or if prices continue rising amid uncertainty, this could slow...

Gold

Canadian Silvercorp to Develop Major Gold Deposits in Kyrgyzstan

A Canadian mining company is set to develop two of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in western Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan gold belt. Silvercorp Metals Inc., a diversified producer of silver, gold, lead, and zinc, announced it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement with Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited, along with a Cooperation Agreement with the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. Under the agreements, Silvercorp will acquire a 70% stake in Chaarat ZAAV CJSC for $162 million. Chaarat ZAAV holds the mining license for the fully permitted Tulkubash and Kyzyltash gold deposits, covering approximately 7 square kilometers, as well as exploration licenses spanning an additional 27.42 square kilometers, which include the Karator and Ishakuld gold zones. Silvercorp has also signed a Share Purchase and Shareholders Agreement with Kyrgyzaltyn, the state-owned gold company. Upon completion, ZAAV will become a joint venture between Silvercorp and Kyrgyzaltyn, with the Canadian firm maintaining a 70% stake and serving as the operator. As part of the deal, the Kyrgyz government will waive its pre-emptive rights and extend the mining license through June 25, 2062, enhancing long-term investment stability. Located about 490 kilometers southwest of Bishkek, the Tulkubash and Kyzyltash projects will be developed in two phases. Phase One (2026-2028) will focus on the Tulkubash deposit. Silvercorp plans to invest around $150 million to construct an open-pit mine with a processing capacity of 4 million tons of ore annually. Commercial production is expected between 2027 and 2028, with annual output estimated at 110,000 ounces of gold over an initial mine life of three to four years. If the Karator exploration license is converted to a mining license in 2026, this phase could be extended by at least two more years. Phase Two (2028-2031) will develop the Kyzyltash sulfide deposit. This stage is expected to require about $400 million in investment and will include both open-pit and underground operations with a capacity of 3-4 million tons per year. Once fully operational from 2031, Kyzyltash is projected to produce between 190,000 and 230,000 ounces of gold annually for more than 18 years. The antimony-gold mineralization at the site was first discovered by Soviet geologists in the 1970s. Since 2002, Chaarat Gold has invested approximately $174 million in exploration, technical studies, and infrastructure, including roads, camps, and support facilities. Silvercorp becomes the second Canadian mining firm to operate in Kyrgyzstan, following Centerra Gold’s development of the Kumtor mine in the Issyk-Kul region. Kumtor was nationalized in 2021, and in August 2022, Kumtor Gold Company was designated a 100% state-owned enterprise. At a ceremony marking the launch of underground mining at Kumtor in August 2025, President Sadyr Japarov stated that Kyrgyzstan had received only $100 million in dividends during 28 years of foreign management, compared to $441 million paid to the state in the three years following nationalization. The Silvercorp transaction marks one of the largest foreign mining investments in Kyrgyzstan since the Kumtor nationalization and is seen as a key test of the country’s ability to...