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                                                                   Exhibit 10.54


                            Translation from Russian

                   CONDITIONS OF THE USE OF MINERAL RESOURCES

Committee of Natural Resources of the Khabarovsk Krai(1) (Licenser) specifies
the following conditions of the use of mineral resources under license HAB
01426BP for geological study of ore gold on northeastern flank of the
Kurun-Urjah ore district within the bounds of the area with coordinates given in
Appendix 1 to this license.

The depth of geological study is limited to 200 m from surface.

1.  These conditions become effective from the date of license registration and
act simultaneously with the license till January 1, 2005.

Validity period of Conditions shall be automatically extended or terminated with
extension or termination of the license.

2.  The holder of the license (Licensee) undertakes:

 -  To conduct the licensed operations within the terms mentioned below:

    a)  Preparation of the Program (Design Plan) of work and getting
        approvals for it -- till January 1, 2001

    b)  Prospecting and assessment -- from January 1, 2001 till January 1, 2005.

 -  To perform the operations in the following volumes:

Prospecting _______________ trenches (ditches) -- 5000 m3
Drilling -- 10,000 m        prospect pits _______________

Types and volumes of operations are subject to correction during the approval of
the Program, after this they are liable to obligatory fulfillment;

-   To conduct the licensed operations in accordance with the Program for the
conduct of work approved in accordance with the established procedure with the
availability of positive conclusion of the State environmental appraisal by the
Territorial Environmental Committee, subject to all requirements and conditions
for the use of mineral resources stipulated by the legislation on mineral
resources of the Russian Federation and territorial authorities;

-   To register the Program for the conduct of work in the Far Eastern
Territorial Geological Fund;

-   To use the plot of land for geological study in accordance with the Decree
of the Head of Administration of the Territory (Region) and land lease agreement
concluded with the Administration of the Region.

-   To observe safety standards (norms and regulations) for the conduct of
mining operations, protection of mineral resources and environment conservation,
maintenance within the bounds of the claim and the land plot;

-   To submit annually the established statistic reports to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the Khabarovsk Krai by January the 15th of the year
following the reporting year;

-   To transfer the obtained geological information in accordance with
Conditions of information transfer specified by Committee on Natural Resources
of the Khabarovsk Krai;

-   To ensure safe keeping of geological or other information gained in the
process of work; not to disclose in any form the obtained geological information
without consent of the Committee on Natural Resources of the Khabarovsk Krai;

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(1)  former "Dalgeolkom" (Far Eastern Committee on Geology)



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-   To preserve exploration workings and drill holes that can be used for
exploitation or other purposes; to liquidate in accordance with the established
procedure those workings that are not to be used;

-   To inform the Committee on Natural Resources of the Khabarovsk Krai about
discovery during the conduct of work of mineral deposits not shown in the
license;

-   In case rare geological or mineralogical formations, meteorites,
paleontological, archeological and other phenomena are found that are of
interest for science or culture to suspend the work on respective area and
inform the authorities that have issued this license.

3.  The Licensee shall be bound to pay below-listed regular taxes for the right
to use mineral resources:

-   Tax for the right to conduct prospecting and assessment of the deposit in
accordance with the Act of the Head of Administration of the Krai No 450 dated
September 16, 1994 at a rate of 1.0% of the cost of fulfilled work;

-   For associate mining of minerals during prospecting and assessment the tax
shall be collected at a rate of 2.0% of the cost of produced mineral, and tax
for production of mineral resources shall be paid at a rate of 7.8% of the cost
of produced and sold mineral.

-   Payment for land of the forestry covered with forests of commercial value
in the form of tax at a rate of 5% of fixed-rate cost of standing wood.

The form and conditions of payments can be additionally specified in the
agreement with the Administration of the Region.

4.  Calculation of taxes, terms of their payment to respective budgets are
regulated by instructions in force. All the above-listed payments shall be
effected by the Licensee on a systematic basis and timely.

5.  The rate of royalty can be changed by the Licenser under new normative acts
adopted by the authorities of the Russian Federation and resolutions of the Head
of the Administration of the Khabarovsk Krai.

6.  The activity of the Licensee associated with the use of mineral resources
shall be supervised by the State Geological Supervision Office, Priamursk
Department of Gosgortekhnadzor of Russia, Territorial Environment Committee in
accordance with the procedure established by legal acts of the Russian
Federation.

7.  The Licensee shall take part in development of social-economic
infrastructure of the territory in accordance with a separate agreement
(contract) concluded with the Administration of the region.

10. This Agreement is considered to be an integral part of the license. In case
of failure to fulfill the above-mentioned conditions the right to use mineral
resources can be terminated, suspended or limited before the appointed time in
accordance with Russian legislation.

11. This Agreement can be amended or altered only on consent of the parties.


Chairman of Committee on                    Head of the enterprise
Natural Resources of the                    securing the license
Khabarovsk Krai

/s/ V. Troyan                               /s/ V. Kravtsov
---------------------------                 ------------------------
V. Troyan                                   V. Kravtsov
May 25, 2000                                May 25, 2000




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THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.

60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109-1820
617-742-7825




[PIONEER LOGO]

     The undersigned hereby certifies that the translation of the Conditions of
the Use of Mineral Resources under License No. HAB 01426 BP dated as of May 25,
2000 by and between the Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources of the
Khabarovsk Territory and Closed Joint-Stock Company "Tas-Yurjah" Mining Company
to which this certification is attached is a fair and accurate translation of
the original document executed in Russian.

Dated: June 13, 2000


                                        /s/ Catherine Mannick
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Catherine Mannick
                                        Title: Vice President and Assistant
                                        General Counsel, The Pioneer
                                        Group, Inc.






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