Kyrgyzstan Launches Gold Mining Project at Togolok Deposit

Kyrgyzstan has launched development of the Togolok gold deposit, in what officials describe as the first large-scale mining project since independence to be implemented entirely using domestic resources. Kumtor Gold Company said its subsidiary, Kumtor Operating Company, has begun work on the deposit, located in the remote, high-altitude Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul Region. The Togolok deposit was first discovered in 1978. It lies in a mountainous area with harsh weather conditions and steep terrain. The nearest settlement, Ak-Shyirak village, is located nearly 3,200 meters above sea level and about 35 kilometers from the site. The deposit is approximately 560 kilometers from Bishkek. Kumtor Operating Company received a license to develop Togolok in August 2023, and a feasibility study completed a year later confirmed the project’s commercial viability. Preparatory work has included expanding narrow access roads to accommodate heavy trucks, building a new bridge over the Kaichy River, and constructing housing facilities for 85 workers. Kanimet Toktosunov, chairman of the board of Kumtor Operating Company, said mining operations began this spring. “Stripping operations are currently underway, and first ore extraction will begin in the coming months,” Toktosunov said. “Eight large mining trucks, two excavators, a loader and a grader for road maintenance have already been delivered to the site.” To support construction of the mining complex, Kumtor held an international tender and selected China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd. as the contractor. The parties signed an agreement in April 2026 for the construction of industrial facilities needed to launch production. The company said the project is expected to become a milestone for Kyrgyzstan’s mining sector and add to the country’s industrial capacity. Kumtor Gold Company, fully owned by state-owned Kyrgyzaltyn, operates the Kumtor mine, Kyrgyzstan’s largest gold deposit, located in the Issyk-Kul Region at an altitude of around 4,000 meters. One of the world’s largest high-altitude gold mines, Kumtor was nationalized in 2021 after previously being operated by Canada’s Centerra Gold. According to Kyrgyzaltyn, the company produced 12,081 kilograms of gold in 2025, generating revenue of $1.434 billion and net profit of more than $706 million, while paying $246.5 million in taxes and other payments. Gold remains Kyrgyzstan’s main export commodity. In 2025, the country exported 6.2 tons of gold worth $682.8 million, accounting for nearly 24% of total exports, according to official data and previous reporting by The Times of Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan Advances Underground Project at Kumtor Mine

The state-owned Kumtor Gold Company, Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mining asset, has announced the high efficiency of its new underground mining operations. According to the company, up to 5 grams of gold can be extracted from each ton of ore mined using the underground method. Experts believe this yield is sufficient to ensure the long-term viability of the deposit. Although underground mining was officially launched in August 2025, actual excavation began in February. In a response to The Times of Central Asia, the company reported that geological reserves in the underground zones of Kumtor are estimated at 147 tons of gold, enabling the mine to remain operational for at least another 17 years. “Two tunnels are currently being developed. Poor ore is being mined at the moment, and the system is reaching its design capacity. Full-scale production will be achieved in the coming years,” the company stated. To date, over 1.5 kilometers of underground tunnels have been excavated at Kumtor. Operations continue around the clock, with special equipment transporting ore out of the mine every ten minutes. To maintain a safe working environment in the high-altitude, cold conditions, warm air is pumped into the tunnels to ensure worker comfort and safety. Kumtor was nationalized in 2022 after nearly 30 years of operation by the Canadian company Centerra Gold. The previous operator had planned to complete mining operations in 2024 and begin land reclamation. While underground mining was explored in 2015, it was deemed unprofitable at the time, in part due to low global gold prices. Today, gold is trading at approximately $4,280 per ounce, around $1,000 more than five years ago. This price increase has significantly improved the profitability of underground extraction, making the project economically viable.