Movement of open pit walls at Kumtor: Company reports normal operation of mine
Heritage of Great Nomads Holding Company commented on the situation at Kumtor mine.
The company noted that an interdepartmental commission was created on May 18, 2022 by order of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov No. 348 to find out the reasons for acceleration of the speed of movement of the eastern and northeastern walls of Central section at Kumtor mine.
The geotechnical service of Kumtor Gold Company CJSC (KGC) registered movement of the pit wall in the Cut-back 20 working area. For the safety of people and equipment, mining operations in this area were temporarily suspended. All mine services are operating normally. The company’s management, together with specialists, is studying the situation. As soon as they receive all the necessary information and are confident in the safety of the work, a decision will be made to resume ore mining there.
«The Kumtor mine itself is very complex in geological and tectonic terms. At the moment, we are establishing the cause of the emerging movements in this area. Experts are working. In 2002, there were already cracks and movement along this wall, and there was a deformation of this wall in 2006,» manager of the Mining Department of KGC Almaz Chomokeev told.
In turn, the chief engineer of the company, Manas Kabaev, said that the mine is located in a complex geological area. Therefore, such natural phenomena as the movement of the walls can occur there.
