Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov announced the launch of underground gold mining at the Kumtor mine, marking a pivotal shift in the operation of Central Asia’s largest gold deposit. The ceremony, covered by Sputnik Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the project’s dual goals: preserving glaciers and boosting state revenues, Sputnik-Kyrgyzstan reports.
Japarov stressed that underground extraction should have begun two decades ago, but the previous operator opted for cheaper open-pit mining, resulting in the irreversible loss of the Davydov and Bald glaciers. The new underground phase is projected to last 17 years, with open-pit operations gradually winding down. Geological reserves at Kumtor are estimated at 147 tonnes of gold.
The president emphasized that Kumtor’s revenues are now directly funding social and infrastructure development — including schools, roads, pension increases, salary hikes, and equipment procurement.
Under state management since 2021, Kumtor has generated $441 million in dividends for the country — surpassing the $100 million earned during 28 years of foreign operation. Since May 2021, total enterprise revenue has reached $3.445 billion, with $891.6 million paid into the national budget. Over 54 tonnes of gold have been extracted during this period.
Additionally, plans are underway to reprocess tailings, which are estimated to contain more than 100 tonnes of recoverable gold, further extending the mine’s economic potential.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
28 августа 2025 года