The Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament) has approved an investment agreement for the construction of a $35 million antimony processing plant in Ayni district of Sughd province. The project, developed by Pahndara Mining, is expected to begin operations in 2027 and create more than 400 permanent jobs, the parliamentary newspaper Sadoi Mardum reports.
Presenting the agreement to lawmakers, Sultan Rahimzoda, chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, said the project aims to develop domestic processing, improve the use of mineral resources and increase the production of finished goods.
The agreement between the government and Pahndara Mining was signed on July 2, 2026. Parliament’s approval provides the legal basis for further implementation of the project.
What will the new plant produce?
Construction began on July 11, 2025, when President Emomali Rahmon remotely launched work at the Pahndara deposit.
The company conducted geological exploration over an area of more than 600 hectares for four years. The deposit is located at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters above sea level.
The plant is designed to process more than 150,000 tons of ore annually, producing up to 50,000 tons of antimony concentrate and up to 5,000 tons of finished products.
The complex will include an ore-processing plant, an antimony production workshop, crushing and sorting facilities, laboratories, warehouses and auxiliary buildings.
Supporting infrastructure includes a 33-kilometer road from Anzob village, a 22-kilometer power transmission line and a water pipeline extending more than six kilometers.
The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027, with more than 400 permanent jobs expected to be created once it becomes operational.
Another step toward domestic processing
The Pahndara project is part of Tajikistan’s efforts to expand domestic mineral processing and increase exports of higher-value products.
Another major project is the TALCO Gold metallurgical plant in Ayni district, commissioned in July 2026. It has a designed annual production capacity of up to 5,000 tons of antimony.
The new Pahndara facility is expected to further expand processing capacity in Sughd province, boost industrial production and create jobs.
Tajikistan’s antimony exports
Antimony is used in a range of industries, including battery manufacturing, fire-resistant materials, metal alloys and electronics.
Tajikistan’s confirmed antimony reserves are estimated at approximately 600,000 tons. According to the US Geological Survey, the country ranked second globally in antimony production in 2024, accounting for around 18% of the world’s output.
According to customs statistics, Tajikistan exported antimony and antimony products worth $499.9 million in 2025, nearly 1.9 times the value recorded in 2024. However, export volumes fell from 13,700 tons to 11,500 tons over the same period.
In January–May 2026, the country exported 5,700 tons of antimony and related products worth a total of $122.7 million.
Tajikistan’s official macroeconomic forecast for 2027–2029 projects antimony exports of $737.7 million in 2027, rising to nearly $949 million by 2029.