PM Abilgaziyev briefs Parliament on situation in Solton-Sary gold deposit

AKIPRESS.COM - Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Muhamedkaliy Abilgaziyev at the unscheduled session of the Parliament on August 8 reported about the situation around the Solton-Sary gold deposit.
According to him, the gold deposit has been examined in 1968. The American company found the gold reserves in the Kyrgyz Altyn enterprise. There were 8 tons of gold then. The gold deposit has not been developed because of the low price of gold.
The PM said that the Chinese Zhong Li Mining Company was issued a license on May 9, 2009 and gold reserves in the amount of 12 tons have been supplied to the State Reserves Committee.
"A license was again issued to the Chinese company in 2013, but there had been a 2010 revolution in 2010 earlier. After these events, the works were suspended," he said.
The license was resumed in 2013 until 2033 for 20 years. The Chinese company Zhong Ji Mining Company then again received a license in 2015.
"In February 2018, there was a Defense Council on Subsoil Management and the company was issued a permit, which was signed by S. Alikeyev, and in 2013, it was signed by Zilaliyev, prior to him - Esenamanov and Kurmanaliyev. In the end of 2018, construction of a tailing dump started, authorities explained and people agreed. After, construction of roads and a plant started. I was not there," Abilgaziyev noted.
When the construction works started, people began complaining that the activities of the gold deposit harm the environment. A commission headed by Kubatbek Boronov has been formed as a result. Residents agreed on further activities of the deposit. But mass die-of of the cattle and diseases of children were ordered to be examined.
In terms of the conflict in Solton-Sary, the PM said that the brawl between the locals and Chinese employees occurred due to the misunderstanding of each other.
Boronov arrived at the site to talk with the locals and the situation was normalized. Examination revealed that the cattle die-off was not caused by activities in the deposit. But then someone triggered the conflict there, according to Abilgaziyev.
"People set up 8 yurts and said they will block the road. About 450 people gathered from 7-8 village. They said they do not believe the government. After negotiations, we agreed that we will talk to the Chinese company. But some young people did not agree with that moved to the deposit. The point is a wrong issuance of a license and its consequences. We will further discuss and conduct investigation and provide the information," Abilgaziyev noted.