Kumtor Gold – the second-highest gold mine in the world.
During the 10th MINEX Central Asia Forum, held on June 19-20, 2024, in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, a series of site visits were organized to showcase some of the region’s most innovative and advanced mining operations. These visits provided attendees with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on insights into the operational processes, technologies, and infrastructure of prominent mines in the region.
Date: 22 June 2024
Location: Southern region of the Central Tien-Shan, Kyrgyz Republic
Highlights:
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- The mine operates at an altitude of 13,000 feet, making it the second-highest mine globally.
- It has produced over 13.8 million ounces of gold as of June 30, 2022.
- The mine operates in a permafrost zone and is an open-pit mine situated at an elevation of 4,000 meters above sea level.
- Attendees visited the Mining Machinery Workshop, Central Quarry 3990 observation deck, and the mill sites.
One of the key visits was to the Kumtor Gold Mine, located approximately 350 kilometres from Bishkek. As one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia, Kumtor has been producing gold since 1997 and has yielded over 13.8 million ounces of gold as of June 30, 2022. Operating at an impressive altitude of 13,000 feet, it is the second-highest mine globally, surpassed only by Newmont Gold mine Yanacocha in Peru. The mine’s commitment to safety, efficient production processes, waste management, and environmental protection was highly praised by the forum attendees.
