[:en]Mines dating back to ancient times have been found in the Kyrgyz Republic. Mining is the largest industry in the Republic, with the gold industry contributing half of industrial output and 60% of export revenues.
Industrial gold mining started in the Kyrgyz Republic in 1986 at the Makmal deposit. In 1996 the development of the Kumtor gold deposit, the largest in Kyrgyzstan, began. In 2016 the project produced 551,000 ounces of gold and contributed 8% of the Kyrgyz Republic’s GDP and had a share of 23.4% in the Republic’s aggregate industrial output.
Central Asia, like other areas of the world, is facing declining output at several of its largest mines and the Kyrgyz Government is eager to encourage new projects like Chaarat.
| GOLD PRODUCING MINES IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Gold Pour | Owner | Location | |
| Kumtor | 1997 | Centerra (Canada), Kyrgyzaltyn* | Central |
| Makmalzoloto | 1986 | Kyrgyzaltyn* | Central |
| Solton Sary | 1994 | Kyrgyzaltyn* | Central |
| Tereksay | Pre-1990 | Kyrgyzaltyn* | Northwest |
| Taldybulak Levoberezhny | 2015 | Zijin (China), Kyrgyzaltyn* | North |
| Bozymchak | 2016 | KAZ Minerals (Kazakhstan) | Northwest |
| Ishtamberdy | 2016 | Full Gold Mining (China) | Southwest |
Sources: State Committee for Energy, Industry, and Subsoil Management, Kyrgyzaltyn * Kyrgyzaltyn is an SOE that holds the government’s stakes in gold mines and is charged with raising investment for the sector. | |||
| GOLD MINES IN DEVELOPMENT IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Location | ||
| Kuru Tegerek | China National Gold Corp., Kyrgyzaltyn* | Northwest | |
| Chaarat | Chaarat Gold Holdings (BVI) | Northwest | |
| Borubai | Kenadyr Mining (Canada) | North | |
| Shiraljin | Altyn Kumushtak Mining (Kazakhstan) | Northwest | |
| Shambesai | Guizhou Geological and Mineral Resources Development Co., (China) | Southwest | |
| Unkurtash | Highland Gold (Russia) | Northwest | |
Sources: State Committee for Energy, Industry, and Subsoil Management, Kyrgyzaltyn * Kyrgyzaltyn is an SOE that holds the government’s stakes in gold mines and also is charged with raising investment for the sector. | |||
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