Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mine Kumtor to be closed in 2031-2032 - Japarov

BISHKEK. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mine, Kumtor, is being prepared for closure in 2031-2032, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said at a meeting with residents of the Talas region.

"According to the plans, the development of the open pit at the Kumtor deposit will be completed in 2031-2032. After that, all equipment will be directed to the development of the Jetim-Too deposit," Japarov said.

The Jerooy deposit operates in the Talas Valley, he said - this is the second-largest gold deposit in Kyrgyzstan after Kumtor, which is being developed by the company Alliance Altyn. The mining enterprise transferred 20 billion som ($228.7 million) in taxes and other mandatory payments to the state budget in 9M 2026.

"Previously we were happy with revenues of 5 billion som ($57.1 million) from Kumtor, and today a single deposit, Jerooy, provides four times more revenue," Japarov said.

Kumtor is one of Kyrgyzstan's largest gold deposits, located in the Issyk-Kul region at an altitude of around 4,000 meters above sea level. Industrial development of the mine began in the 1990s, with gold production starting in 1997. In 2004, the company Centerra Gold was created, which owned the majority stake in the project until the mine came under Kyrgyzstan's full control in 2022.