[: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 PourOwnerLocation
Kumtor1997Centerra (Canada), Kyrgyzaltyn*Central
Makmalzoloto1986Kyrgyzaltyn*Central
Solton Sary1994Kyrgyzaltyn*Central
TereksayPre-1990Kyrgyzaltyn*Northwest
Taldybulak Levoberezhny2015Zijin (China), Kyrgyzaltyn*North
Bozymchak2016KAZ Minerals (Kazakhstan)Northwest
Ishtamberdy2016Full 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
OwnerLocation
Kuru TegerekChina National Gold Corp., Kyrgyzaltyn*Northwest
ChaaratChaarat Gold Holdings (BVI)Northwest
BorubaiKenadyr Mining (Canada)North
ShiraljinAltyn Kumushtak Mining (Kazakhstan)Northwest
ShambesaiGuizhou Geological and Mineral Resources Development Co., (China)Southwest
UnkurtashHighland 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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