Kyrgyzstan plans to independently develop three gold deposits in the Talas Region - Taldy-Bulak, Andash and Bala-Chychkan - without selling mining licences to investors.

President Sadyr Japarov announced the plans during a meeting with residents of the Talas Region, 24.kg reports.

The president said that a team of specialists has been established at state-owned company Kyrgyzaltyn to oversee the projects.

He noted that the government is already independently developing the Togolok, Kyzyl-Ompol and Unkur-Tash deposits, providing the projects with the necessary funding, equipment and personnel.

President Japarov also emphasized that Kyrgyz legislation requires the state to hold at least a 30% stake in all mining projects. He added that environmental protection would be a key priority during the development of the deposits.

The president also announced plans to develop the Zhetim-Too deposit. Once open-pit mining at the Kumtor gold mine is completed in 2031-2032, the equipment currently used there is expected to be transferred to the new site.