Kyrgyzstan announced the nationalization of the Kumtor gold mine | News from Germany on world events

The Kumtor gold mine in Kyrgyzstan is no longer owned by the Canadian company Centerra Gold Inc. This was announced on Saturday, November 20, by the head of the Kyrgyz government Akylbek Zhaparov. “On Friday, November 19, Canadian time, after the completion of exchange trading, Centerra Gold Inc. decided to recognize that it no longer owns the national treasure of the Kyrgyz people – the Kumtor mine. Centerra Gold Inc. was forced to write off 926 million dollars and reflect the fact of loss of control over the Kumtor mine, – the press service of the government quotes Japarov as saying.

According to the Prime Minister, who is quoted by the Interfax news agency, in the event of the nationalization of the mine, “we are not talking about infringing on the interests of investors.” “From the very first day, the Kyrgyz government called on the management of Centerra Gold Inc. to recognize the enormous damage to the nature and economy of our country. The Cabinet of Ministers will continue to actively defend the rule of law and the national interests of the people of Kyrgyzstan,” Japarov added.

Centerra Gold talks about takeover of the mine

In an appeal to the Kyrgyz people, published by the Centerra Gold press service, the Canadian company announced the takeover of the mine based “on false information and unsubstantiated allegations.” “We fear that the government’s unjustified actions will jeopardize thousands of well-paid jobs and businesses of hundreds of Kyrgyz suppliers,” the document says.

The company recalled that since 1994 it has invested more than $ 3.4 billion in the development and operation of the mine in accordance with international environmental and safety standards. “Under our leadership, the Kumtor mine has become the largest private employer in the Kyrgyz Republic, the largest taxpayer, making a significant contribution to the Kyrgyz economy and important social programs,” the company stressed.

Largest alpine gold deposit in Central Asia

Kumtor is the largest alpine gold deposit in Central Asia. The mine is located in the Issyk-Kul region in the north of Kyrgyzstan, 60 km from the border with China at an altitude of more than 4 thousand meters, yielding in height only to the Yanacocha gold deposit in Peru.

Soviet geologists found gold in the Tien Shan mountains in 1978. But the development of the field was postponed due to the high cost of the project – 995.4 million Soviet rubles (about 1.46 billion dollars at that time). The general agreement on the Kumtorzoloto project was signed by the government of independent Kyrgyzstan and one of the world’s largest uranium producers, the Canadian company Cameco, in December 1992. Commercial gold production at the deposit began in 1997.

On May 17, 2021, the Kyrgyz parliament adopted a resolution on the introduction of temporary external management at the facility in connection with the “irresponsible actions” of Centerra Gold Inc. This parliamentary decision is based on the findings of a state commission and a law passed in early May that allows the government to outsource Kumtor in case of violation of environmental requirements. Moreover, a court in Bishkek ordered the Kumtor developer to pay the state $ 3 billion in compensation for illegal storage of industrial waste on the Davydov and Lysy glaciers.

See also:

Scythian gold
From Crimean museums
For the first time, Scythian treasures were shown at an exhibition in Bonn in 2013. Almost all 550 exhibits are from the fund collections of museums in Ukraine. From Bonn, the exhibition traveled to Amsterdam in 2014. And then politics intervened. The Netherlands does not recognize the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Where to return the treasure now?

Scythian gold
5th century earrings
After the completion of the exhibition, the Amsterdam Museum immediately returned to Ukraine 19 objects borrowed from the Museum of Historical Treasures of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Who to return the Scythian gold taken in the Crimea, in Amsterdam they still do not know. As long as the dispute continues, it is almost impossible to see the treasures. We introduce you to invaluable archaeological finds, the fate of which is decided by the court in Amsterdam.

Scythian gold
Hercules knot
The clasp made of gold, decorated with turquoise, is made in the shape of the so-called “Hercules knot”. This is one of the favorite forms of antique jewelry. It is assumed that the name comes from the way in which Hercules tied the skin of the Nemean lion he had killed on his chest. In the maritime business, the Hercules knot (loops threaded into each other) is called today a straight knot.

Scythian gold
Dolphin of the Sarmatian queen
This clasp made of rock crystal in the shape of a dolphin was found in the Nogaychinsky burial mound, in the burial of a woman who lived at the end of the 1st century BC. – 1st century A.D. Judging by the abundance of gold jewelry and precious stones, we are talking about a queen or priestess. The find was of great scientific value: it made it possible to learn more about the Sarmatian tribes. Perhaps archaeologists have found the burial place of the legendary queen of the Sarmatians Amagi.

Scythian gold
Crimean carnelian
Beads in the 1st century AD made in the Crimea from gold plates and rings, polished glass and carnelian. Carnelian is a reddish-pink, yellow-red or orange-red mineral. Its name comes from a color reminiscent of dogwood berries. The name of this berry in Latin is Cornus. But the Greek name for this mineral is better known and rooted: carnelian.

Scythian gold
Precious weapon
This sword was found in the “Tolstoy Grave” – a Scythian mound of the 4th century BC, located near the Chertomlyk station in the Dnepropetrovsk region. The central tomb, where a representative of the Scythian nobility was buried, was partially plundered. However, about 600 gold jewelry was found here. Images of winged lions, deer, horses and eagles adorn the golden sword scabbard.

Scythian gold
Wheat for export
In the late Scythian settlement of Ust-Alma on the western coast of Crimea, wheat, rye, barley, and peas were grown. Crimean wheat was exported and was especially famous in Greece. It was grain that determined the wealth of Ust-Alma. In one of the necropolises of the settlement, these unique Chinese lacquer boxes were found. They are about two thousand years old. The boxes have been restored by Japanese craftsmen.

Scythian gold
Grape tinsel
Gold decorative ornaments in the form of leaves were also found in Ust-Alma. Most likely, grape leaves were the specimen, although some botanists doubt this.

Scythian gold
Unnoticed grave
One of the richest finds of the Djurga necropolis, both, was made quite recently, in 2007. The robbers had previously visited the crypt, but they did not notice this burial. A representative of the nobility was buried here. This is evidenced, in particular, by a gold funerary diadem with trefoils and precious earrings with carnelian and garnet inserts. The woman died young: she was no more than 25 years old.
Author: Efim Shuman