(Repeats item first published June 22)
* Konimansuri Kalon licence to be awarded by year-end
* Chinese companies withdraw from race - govt official *IFC-backed silver project could boost Tajik economy By OlgaOrininskaya ALMATY
buy christian louboutin uk useful blog " Jefferies &, June 22 (Reuters) - BHP Billiton (BHP.AX: Quote)(BLT.L: Quote) and a consortium led by Glencore-owned (GLEN.L: Quote) Kazzincare the only contenders for Tajikistan's largest silver fieldafter three Chinese rivals withdrew their bids
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The licence to develop the Konimansuri Kalon deposit shouldbe awarded by the end of this year, Rahmonbek Bakhtdavlatov,first deputy head of Tajikistan's government agency forgeology, told reporters on Wednesday.
The International Finance Corporation
buy christian louboutin uk , the investment armof the World Bank, is the lead adviser for the deal thatTajikistan hopes will bring investment of about $2 billion toan economy dependent largely on remittances from migrantworkers.
"If we work this project out, the investment climate inTajikistan will change completely," Bakhtdavlatov said on thesidelines of a mining conference. "We should resolve the issuethis year."
Tajikistan
buy christian louboutin uk , a mountainous republic bordering Afghanistanand China, is the poorest of the 15 former Soviet states. Morethan 47 percent of its 7.5 million people live on less than $2a day, according to World Bank data.
Approximately 1 million migrant workers sent home $2.2billion last year, or nearly 40 percent of Tajikistan's grossdomestic product. The country is also an exporter of aluminiumand cotton.
BHP Billiton and the consortium led by Kazzinc -- a Kazakhminer and producer of lead, zinc and copper -- were among agroup of five bidders for the project. Three Chinese companieshad since pulled out of the race, Bakhtdavlatov said. Continued...