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Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Gold Mine Under Government Scrutiny

The gold field was discovered in 1978.
1/15 The gold field was discovered in 1978.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
2/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
The mine, at some 4,000 meters above sea level, is one of the highest gold deposits in the world.
3/15 The mine, at some 4,000 meters above sea level, is one of the highest gold deposits in the world.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
A holding tank for water used in the extraction process
4/15 A holding tank for water used in the extraction process
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
The mine has produced about 270 tons of gold to date.
5/15 The mine has produced about 270 tons of gold to date.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
6/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
The Kumtor mine employs more than 2,500 people, mostly Kyrgyz citizens.
7/15 The Kumtor mine employs more than 2,500 people, mostly Kyrgyz citizens.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
8/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
9/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
A blast breaks apart the rock. According to current estimates, the mine should be productive until 2023.
10/15 A blast breaks apart the rock. According to current estimates, the mine should be productive until 2023.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
Parts of the Davidov glacier have been destroyed as part of the mine's expansion.
11/15 Parts of the Davidov glacier have been destroyed as part of the mine's expansion.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
12/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
Cases of cyanide used in gold extraction. The toxic chemical can present an environmental hazard if it is not destroyed during the extraction process.
13/15 Cases of cyanide used in gold extraction. The toxic chemical can present an environmental hazard if it is not destroyed during the extraction process.
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
14/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
15/15
The Kumtor mine in northern Kyrgyzstan, run by the Canadian Centerra Gold company since 1997, is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. It's also at the center of a national debate in which some Kyrgyz officials are pushing for a heavier tax burden and environmental fines on the Canadian operator. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service correspondent Janarbek Joldoshbaev visited the site high in the Tian-Shan mountains and filed these photographs. (15 PHOTOS)
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BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz government commission is looking into potential problems that could be caused by moving waste heaps at the country's biggest gold mine.

The commission arrived at the Kumtor mine on May 3, a day after President Almazbek Atambaev's order "to immediately evaluate the situation."

The presidential press service said that the commission will also look into whether the Toronto-based company Centerra Gold has properly addressed issues related to environmental protection and workers' safety.

In February, the Kyrgyz parliament gave the government three months to renegotiate the terms of a 2009 financial agreement on Kumtor.

The deal granted Centerra Gold a low tax rate that officials now say deprives the state budget of millions of dollars in revenue.

Kyrgyzstan's political opposition has been demanding the nationalization of Kumtor.
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    RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service

    RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service is an award-winning, multimedia source of independent news and informed debate, covering major stories and underreported topics, including women, minority rights, high-level corruption, and religious radicalism.

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