Kyrgyzstan recorded a notable increase in the extraction of gold, silver, coal, and natural gas in the first half of 2025, even as the number of companies operating in the sector declined, according to data from the Kyrgyz Geological Service.
Compared to the first six months of 2024, the country produced an additional 700 kg of gold and 1.1 million m³ more natural gas in 2025. Silver and coal production also rose significantly.
However, the sector is seeing a consolidation. A total of 199 production licenses were revoked in the first half of 2025, while only 15 new licenses were issued, down from 26 over the same period last year. Government officials noted that many license holders had not initiated development, and their permits were reallocated to other operators upon expiration.
Increased Output and Revenue
The state resource balance in the first half of 2025 was as follows:
- Regular gold: 5.8 tons
- Placer gold: up from 28.3 kg to 57 kg
- Silver: up from 198 kg to 3.8 tons
- Coal: up from 3.1 million to 4.4 million tons
Tax and non-tax revenues increased from 17.9 billion KGS ($205.2 million) to 27.8 billion KGS ($318.5 million). Industrial production reached 30.7 billion KGS ($352 million), marking a rise of nearly 3 billion KGS ($34.4 million).
Risks to Construction Resources
At the same time, reserves of marble, sand, and gravel have declined due to high demand from the construction sector. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the ongoing construction boom is driving aggressive extraction of these materials, hastening depletion.
Balancing Growth and Sustainability
While the increase in mineral production and revenue contributes positively to Kyrgyzstan’s GDP and reflects the benefits of a streamlined licensing policy, the report emphasizes the importance of sustainable resource management. With continued pressure from the construction and energy sectors, experts caution that long-term planning is crucial to avoid overexploitation of finite resources.
