Kyrgyzstan will develop the Taldy-Bulak, Andash and Bala-Chychkan gold deposits in Talas region on its own instead of selling licences to investors, reported 24.kg, citing President Sadyr Japarov.
Japarov made the announcement at a meeting with residents of the Aitmatov and Manas districts during his working trip to the region. The state company Kyrgyzaltyn has formed a team of specialists for the projects. The state already runs the Togolok, Kyzyl-Ompol and Unkur-Tash deposits, providing funding, machinery, equipment and trained staff. The president said environmental protection would be a top priority.
Recent amendments to the law require a mandatory 30% state stake in all mining projects.
The Jerooy deposit in Talas shows what is at stake. Its operator, Alliance Altyn, employs about 1,000 people, most of them local, and paid 20 billion soms in taxes and other payments in the first nine months of 2026. Since 2021, the company has contributed more than 3.5 billion soms to local development funds. “We used to be pleased with revenues of 5 billion soms from Kumtor, whereas today Jerooy alone generates four times as much,” Japarov said.
Open-pit mining at Kumtor is expected to end in 2031–2032, after which its equipment will move to the Zhetim-Too deposit.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
November 3, 2026