 Mining |
Since ancient times, peoples that inhabited Kyrgyzstan
territories operated mines in order to live and
struggle for survival. There are still remains of
washed rocks along rivers Chandalash, Kassan, Chatkal,
underground mine system on lead-silver deposits
Kan-I-Gut, Kan, etc., quarries at mercurial-antimonide
objects Haidarkan, Chauvai, Symap. First scientific
generalization on metalogeny were found in Manas
epos where it was noted that in Talas area there
were more silver than lead. Due to some geological
peculiarities there is silver concentration in that
area therefore called a silver province.
Before the October Revolution tens of placer deposits
were mined in Naryn, Uzun-Ahmat, Talas and other
areas. In early soviet times there existed lead,
zinc, mineral paints prospecting artels. Antimonial
deposits mining started in Kadamjai and Tereksai
areas.
During World War II, mineral extraction in Kyrgyzstan
livened up due to loss or occupation of Ukrainian
and Caucasus enterprises, polymetal mines opened
in Aktyuz, Boordu, and Sumsar, AK-Kul. Haidarkan,
Chauvai, Birk-Suu, Symap antimony companies were
launched as well as gold and tungsten mining in
Kumbel and Meliks areas.
Later on, after the national economy recovery, mining
production continued developing based on major state-owned
plants such as Kyrgyz Mining Plant, Kyrgyz Mining
and Smelting Plant, Kadamjai Antimonial Plant, Haidarkan
Mercury Plant, Kyrgyz Coal Company, and Kyrgyz Oil
Company. All of them were under the USSR Ministries
of Medium Engineering Industry, Non-ferrous Metallurgy,
Coal Industry, Oil and Gas Industries, and managed
from the center.
For more than 10 years since Kyrgyzstan became independent
it manages the mineral and raw material resources
and related industries development. Mining and metallurgy
make a significant contribution to the country's
economy. For instance, in 1999, mining alone contributed
about 21 per cent of GDP. The most important sector
is gold mining and processing. This is also the
only sector to have attracted foreign investment.
Most of gold products are exported.
Gold is the most valuable and productive mineral
produced in Kyrgyzstan. Over three thousand of its
displays have been found in Kyrgyz fold areas. The
country might be considered a golden province where
gold accumulates due to internal geochemical features,
conditions of the element concentration. The state
and perspectives of the gold mining industry are
being determined by the international gold market.
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Kyrgyzstan is the tenth
largest producer and seller of gold in the world.
Kumtor is the largest gold mine. It extracts about
18 tons of gold annually. The mine is run by Kumtor
Gold Company, a Kyrgyz-Canadian joint venture and
has the seventh largest gold reserves in the world.
Cameco Gold (Canada) holds 30 per cent in the venture
and state-owned Kyrgyzaltyn 70 per cent. 1000 workers
are directly employed by Kumtor Operating Company,
88 per cent are Kyrgyz citizens. The joint venture
is the major earner for the country. It has underground
reserves of an estimated 200 tons. Kumtor gold project
is a successful example of high level organization
and one of the biggest ore production projects in
the former Soviet Union. The Kumtor project has
demonstrated to the international community the
viability of mining projects in Central Asia and
been helpful for Kyrgyzstan to attract investment,
technology, and management skills to develop its
mining industry.
Various foreign companies are exploring Kyrgyzstan's
gold reserves. Hemco-Kyrgyzstan, a subsidiary of
Hemco (US) intends to explore the Kuru-Tegerek gold
and copper deposit in the south. The project is
estimated to cost a total of $54 million. The reserves
of the deposit are estimated at 7.5 tons of gold
and 28,000 tons of copper. Barrick Gold (Canada)
and Mindeco (Japan) are also involved in geological
prospecting in southern Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh mining
investors are very interested in northern deposits
neighboring their country.
Mercury is the second most frequently found element
in the Kyrgyzstan ground. Its deposits here lay
in the form of a large belt from Leilek River in
the East to Uzengikush River in the West, over thousand
kilometers along the Fergana-Atbashi break. The
depth of the deposit is over 5 kilometers.
Mercury production development should be planned
according to the situation on the international
raw material market. Its peak was in the 1960's.
Balance of mercury resources in Kyrgyzstan covered
Haidarkan, Novoe, Chonkoi, and Birksu deposits.
These resources made up 30 per cent of those available
in all CIS countries.
Kyrgyzstan also plans to double its uranium production
over the next few years, through cooperation with
Russia and Kazakhstan. Under a trilateral agreement
between the three countries, raw material from the
Chui-Sarisu uranium deposit in Kazakhstan will be
transferred to the Kara-Balta Mining Complex for
processing, and then transported to Russia for further
processing. The Kara-Balta Mining Complex processes
about 450 tons of uranium per year, operating at
35 per cent of capacity. Kyrgyzstan has signed an
agreement with the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry
for the development of Kyrgyz uranium deposits,
including Zarechnoye. The uranium oxide will be
processed and supplied to Russia.
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