Deccan Gold Mines Ltd is set to mark its transition from exploration and development to gold production with the inauguration of the gold processing plant at its Altyn Tor Gold Project in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, September 12.
Kyrgyz Republic President Sadyr N. Japarov will inaugurate the plant through an online ceremony. Senior management representatives of Deccan Gold Mines and Avelum Partner LLC will attend the event from the project site, along with the Indian Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
First Indian mining investment to reach production
The company said the Altyn Tor project represents a significant milestone and is the first investment by an Indian company in the gold mining sector of the Kyrgyz Republic to reach the production stage.
Deccan Gold Mines holds a 60% stake in Avelum Partner LLC, the developer and operator of the project. The investment also marks the first investment by an Indian mining and exploration company in Kyrgyzstan and is expected to strengthen economic and investment ties between the two countries.
Project holds 180,000 ounces of resources
Altyn Tor is located in the Naryn region of central Kyrgyzstan and forms part of the highly mineralised Soltan Sary zone, which extends over 300 km and is part of the Tien Shan Shear Zone, known for several major gold deposits.
The project’s mineral resources are estimated at 4.65 million tonnes grading 1.21 grams of gold a tonne at a 0.5 gram a tonne cut-off, containing about 180,000 ounces of gold. The company sees potential to add at least another 20,000 ounces through limited drilling.
Mine has long production history
The resource estimate includes 1.4 million tonnes of tailings and low-grade stockpile material containing about 51,000 ounces of gold.
Mining at Altyn Tor began in 1993 under Kyrgyzaltyn OJSC, the State-owned gold mining company. The mine produced approximately 2,200 kg of gold before its temporary closure in 2022.
Leaching circuit improves recovery
In 2022, Avelum entered into an agreement with Kyrgyzaltyn to develop and operate the mine. A feasibility study completed in 2023 established the viability of improving gold recovery through the addition of a leaching circuit and expansion of the existing open-pit mine.
In early August 2026, Deccan Gold Mines produced its first gold doré at Altyn Tor, marking its transition from an explorer to a producer. A batch of gravity circuit concentrate was processed through newly installed Intensive Leach System tanks as part of a proof-of-concept run.
First doré validates processing flowsheet
Gold was recovered from the pregnant leach solution through the Merrill-Crowe process and subsequently smelted to produce doré.
The first batch was intended to evaluate the integrated process design and validate operating parameters under field conditions.
To begin full scale commercialisation
The company said the outcome confirmed the metallurgical leachability of the material and translated recovery rates established in laboratory testing into the production environment.
The milestone is expected to de-risk the processing flowsheet and demonstrate operational viability as Deccan Gold Mines moves towards full-scale commercialisation of the Altyn Tor project.