In Tajikistan’s mountainous heartland, the Soviet-era Saritag antimony mine stands testament to China’s growing influence in Central Asia. Run by the joint venture Talco Gold, a collaboration between Tajik and Chinese companies, the mine produces over 5,000 tonnes of antimony concentrate daily, crucial for many industrial applications. The ore is crushed, ground in large drums, and then separated from the metal using chemical reagents before being dried and bagged as 30% pure antimony. This large-scale operation was made possible by a significant Chinese investment in 2022, which is now being followed by the construction of a new purification plant.
Pictures of Tajikistan’s long-time President Emomali Rakhmon coexist with portraits of Chinese leader Xi Jinping on posters juxtaposing the country’s past with its present economic reality. While remnants of the Soviet era remain, China has overtaken Russia as the dominant power in the region’s crucial mining sector.
The full potential of the mine is yet to be unlocked. China’s ambitious $359 million project aims to build a state-of-the-art purification plant on the site, allowing for even greater control over the antimony production chain.
The Chinese investment, pouring in, signals a strategic move to secure access to vital resources and cement political ties. While offering much-needed economic boost to Tajikistan, it raises concerns about resource dependence and potential environmental consequences.
This narrative paints a picture of delicate balance: economic prosperity coupled with increasing reliance on a single partner, leaving Tajikistan to navigate the complex landscape of China’s expanding geopolitical footprint in Central Asia.
