WHERE DID THE 150 TONS OF GOLD FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE GO?
The war in Ukraine and Russia's confrontation with the West have complicated the global economy. If the crisis continues, it will also affect Tajikistan. How will the country cope?
One of Tajikistan's resources is gold.
Tajikistan annually produces 1.5–2 tons of gold, which is managed by the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank. These gold reserves are used to purchase essential goods, especially when the somoni is not accepted on international markets. The country also has significant gold deposits, such as the Shugnov deposit. However, mining in such conditions requires substantial infrastructure investments, which Tajikistan lacks. Therefore, the country is forced to attract foreign investors.
Experts claim that none of the gold deposits in Tajikistan are under state control. Some companies continue to mine in Shugnov for state needs, including gifts for high-ranking guests and reserves for emergencies.
However, the question remains: how much gold remains at Tajikistan's disposal after collaborating with foreign companies? Officials do not provide an answer.
30 years ago, the Prime Minister of Tajikistan stated that the Ministry of Finance had 150 tons of gold, which could sustain the country with food for several years. But what happened to this gold remains unknown.
If our assumptions are correct and about 50 tons of gold have been mined in the past 30 years, Tajikistan could exchange it for 1.5 million tons of wheat from Russia, especially considering Kazakhstan's refusal to sell grain.
If our assumptions are wrong, Tajikistan faces a serious crisis. Not only are the gold deposits not controlled by the country, but according to signed agreements, Tajik citizens are prohibited from working at these mines.