News & Publications

To: A. Atambaev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic J. Satybaldiev, Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republc Members of the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz Republic From: Employee of Kumtor Operating Company (KOC)   Address We, employees of the Kumtor mine, our families and relatives, are extremely outraged with the fact that a small group of people, violating the Kyrgyz Republic Law, have blocked the road to the Kumtor mine. This group, by blocking the road, harms production as well as the economy of Kyrgyzstan on the whole. If the protestors have any requirements towards KOC, they should submit those through the KR Government, which should then decide whether these requirements are appropriate to satisfy by negotiating with the company management. Such unlawful actions have happened repeatedly during the course of the company’s operation. In all road blockage cases the company resolved the conflict by negotiating with local resident on its own. In the past, the government wouldn’t take any action to ensure public order. We are facing indecision of the government once again in this kind of situation. We, the KOC employees, totaling 3000 people, provide support for no less than 10 people each. We are the citizens of the […]

On May 27, 2013 at 17:00 the road leading to the Kumtor mine was blocked by a group of residents of Jety-Oguz district. The Company is very concerned about the illegal actions of this group of people as they are prevent the traffic flow, which has lead to the disruption of supplies to the mine site. If the blockage continues for any prolonged period, 2013 production could be affected

A training session organized for young activists of Youth Banks on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is over. Youth Banks is a 2-year project implemented by Eurasia Fund-Central Asia with the financial support of Kumtor Company

Kumtor has established solar panels at Ton and Kok-Sai, Ton district, thus making running water available to more than 1,000 residents. In these photovoltaic panels solar energy is converted into electrical and provides the water pumps, supplying water from underground wells to the village. If before the villagers had an access to the water only for an hour a day, now thanks to panels, it is available around the clock. Highly efficient solar panels work in a sunny and in cloudy weather conditions. These panels are able to accumulate energy and provide water even at night. Solar pump is easy in use and is designed for 20 years of service. In total Kumtor Company allocated 529,000 soms to install 8-panel solar system in Mys Valley of Ton village and 857,000 soms to install 16-panel solar system in Kok-Sai village. Investments in modern technology will not only improve the quality of life of the villagers, but also will help the local government to make significant savings on electricity bills.

On May 22, 2013 the Kumtor Gold Company CJSC (KGC) and the USAID-funded Kyrgyz Agro-Input Enterprise Development (KAED) Project will launch a joint project on rehabilitation of two sites with a total acreage of 2,000 hectares in Ak-Dobo and Lipenka rural councils, Issyk-Kul Oblast.

In response to concerns, raised by some parliament members at the plenary session of the KR Parliament on May 16, 2013 that the waste rock dump movement could affect the tailings facility, Kumtor Gold Company considers it is necessary to repeat its earlier statements that the Kumtor mine tailings facility will not be affected by the movement of the waste dump

The Kumtor Gold Company CJSC (Kumtor) transferred 500 K USD to micro-credit agencies ‘Jeti-Oguz’, ‘Ton Finance’ and ‘Balykchi Finance’ to support the micro-crediting programs of Issyk-Kul Province , and 500 K USD will be transferred in July of 2013 as well

In early May Kumtor Operating Company issued an official statement regarding the waste rock dumps movement at the mine. The Government in the urgent order has established a special commission to inspect the waste-rock dump movement. After members of the Commission visited to the mine site, they voiced their views and preliminary conclusions. Today we offer our readers an opportunity to get acquainted with the opinion of the President of Kumtor Operating Company, Michael Fischer. – Mr. President, several Kyrgyz experts state in their comments that placement of waste rock on the Davydov Glacier was illegal. Is this so? – The Company has never done anything illegal or unsanctioned with regard to placement of waste rock on the Davydov Glacier. Placement of waste rock on the Davydov Glacier was approved, and first expert opinions date back to 1995. – After the visit of experts to the Mine Site numerous comments were made. Why did not the Company notify State authorities in time? Why was destruction of two buildings allowed? Will the substation located below the administrative building be impacted? – First, reports on movement of waste dumps by monitoring points are sent to the State Inspectorate on Environmental and Technical […]

The Kumtor mine reports that as expected, the waste-rock dump at the mine, in the Chon-Sarytor Valley, is experiencing movement. This movement is planned for in the approved Kumtor mine expansion plan filed with the Kyrgyz Republic authorities

Launched last year, a joint project of our Company and the One Village – One Product association is already showing results. New equipment purchased by the Association within the framework of this project helps budding entrepreneurs to make jams and juices in the new workshop in Karakol in compliance with all health and hygiene standards. Aspiring entrepreneurs from southern coast learned to produce jam, not only from traditional berries and fruits. A jam from cones and dandelions also enjoys popularity among buyers. All products produced by Jety-Oguz and Ton communities are available in Karakol research shop in Dairy shop in Bishkek. You can also purchase felt products made by one of the communities in Ton district, which have already been successfully exported.

On April 30, 2013 in Bishkek Kumtor Company initiated a meeting with representatives of donor organizations and non-governmental sector dedicated to sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan. The purpose of this event was to get acquainted with project being implemented by non-governmental sector in Issyk-Kul region and the whole Kyrgyzstan in order to find out ways of future collaboration. During the meeting representatives of organizations held a short presentations about their projects, shared their experience with other participants and disscussed the possibility of further joint cooperation. Participants noted the importance of holding such meetings on a regular basis. The meeting brought together representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Transparency International, the German Society for International Cooperation, Fauna and Flora International, the Aga Khan Foundation, the University of Central Asia, the American University in Central Asia, Helvetas, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, One Village – One Product Association, AVEP Public Foundation, Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia, Development Policy Institute, and Camp Alatoo NGO.

TO: A. Sh. Atambaev KR President TO: A. Sh. Jeenbekov KR Parliament Speaker TO J. J. Satybaldiev KR Prime Minister Dear Mr. Atambaev, We, KOC employees, approach you with regard to the stringent situation around The Kumtor gold deposit. Based on the findings of the state and parliamentary commissions on the Kumtor Project, various political figures, leaders of public and environmental organizations launch legislative initiatives to denounce the Agreement on New Terms for the Kumtor Project dated 2009 and nationalize the Company as well as call for public active participation in this process under the mask of patriotic slogans abusing trust of ordinary people. Pursuing their own political goals, they do not think that the Agreement denunciation can result in entire Mine shutdown. Such shutdown can last for years during multiple international arbitration proceedings. Thus, 4,000 employees including their family members will be left with no jobs and means of subsistence. Currently, Kumtor is the only significant investment project being implemented in the country. The Company has operated since mid 90-s providing 10% of the country’s GDP, 40% of the industrial output, more than 50% of export and more 20% of all tax contributions of the state. According to the […]