Deccan Gold Mines Ltd (DGML) announced on Tuesday that its flagship Altyn Tor Gold project in Kyrgyzstan has reached a major construction milestone and is set to commission its crushing and milling circuit in the second half of 2025.

Situated in the mineral-rich mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the project is operated by Avelum Partners LLC, in which DGML holds a 60 per cent controlling stake. Once operational, it will be the first Indian-owned gold production facility in Central Asia.

“With the ball mill foundation laid and fabrication of key equipment well underway, we remain on schedule for commissioning,” said Managing Director Hanuma Prasad Modali. “It’s a testament to how responsible mining and rapid execution can coexist.”

Key equipment such as pumps, compressors, and conveyors have been ordered and are expected to arrive onsite within four weeks. A sewerage treatment plant has also been procured to comply with Kyrgyzstan’s environmental regulations. The company is preparing to operationalise the crushing and milling circuit within two months.

“This project is more than just a mining venture — it’s an economic catalyst,” Modali added. “We’ve already employed over 150 local workers and are committed to sustainable growth and long-term partnerships in Kyrgyzstan.”

DGML is also executing an aggressive drilling programme of approximately 5,000 metres to expand the project’s resource base. Exploration results from 2024 have confirmed high-grade mineralisation extending west and beneath the current pit design.

The programme is expected to boost total resources beyond 200,000 ounces of gold, with potential for expanding the open pit and developing a high-grade underground mine, thereby extending the project’s life to over 10 years.

Listed on the BSE, Deccan Gold Mines was established in 2003 and is India’s first and only listed gold exploration company. It holds exploration assets across India and globally, including in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan, and Finland.