Deccan Gold Mines Ltd has said work on its flagship gold project in the Kyrgyz Republic is progressing rapidly, with the company targeting full commercial operations by August 2026.
The company said construction activity at the Altyn Tor Gold Project has accelerated significantly following improved weather conditions over the past few weeks. Around 130 Indian expatriates are currently working alongside a large local workforce at the site to fast-track execution.
According to the company, the gravity circuit at the project has already been fully commissioned and gold concentrate production is expected to commence in June. This will pave the way for commissioning of the Merril-Crowe circuit, which is also expected to go live in June and enable production of dore bars from gravity concentrates.
Deccan Gold said the full-scale plant, along with all operational trials, is expected to be ready for commercial production by August 2026.
August inauguration planned
The company has already started planning for the formal inauguration of the project in August, coinciding with the Independence Day celebrations of both India and Kyrgyzstan.
Deccan Gold Managing Director Hanuma Prasad Modali said steadily improving weather conditions had enabled the company to ramp up construction activities at the site.
“The steadily improving weather conditions at site have allowed our team to ramp up construction at the site. We are particularly pleased with the successful commissioning of the gravity circuit and expectation of producing gold concentrate ahead of commissioning the Merril-Crowe system in June,” he said.
He added that as the first Indian mining company operating in Kyrgyzstan, the company remained focused on responsible growth, operational excellence and creating a model for cross-border collaboration benefiting both nations.
Strategic overseas expansion
The Altyn Tor Gold Project marks a significant overseas milestone for Deccan Gold. The company’s investment into Avelum Partners, developer and operator of the project, represents the first investment by an Indian mining and exploration company in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Industry observers believe the project could strengthen economic and mining sector cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan while opening new opportunities for Indian companies in Central Asia’s mineral-rich regions.
Located in a highly mineralised gold belt
The Altyn Tor deposit is located in the highly mineralised Soltan Sary gold zone, which stretches over 300 kilometres and forms part of the major Tien Shan Shear Zone.
Gold mineralisation in the region is hosted in quartz and quartz-carbonate veins as well as stockwork formations, making the area geologically significant for long-term gold exploration and production potential.
India’s only listed gold resource company
Deccan Gold said it continues to remain the first and only gold and critical mineral resource company listed on the BSE.