IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Kyrgyzstan

The assessment finds that Kyrgyzstan has a generally favourable fiscal regime and updated primary mining laws, but suffers from outdated Soviet-era technical instructions, an unpredictable tax administration, and significant gaps in mine closure legislation and artisanal mining regulation. While socioeconomic and environmental impacts are nominally integrated into permitting, the report identifies a lack of integrated understanding and inconsistent community engagement. The government is actively managing uranium legacy sites with international support, but lacks a comprehensive framework for the post-mining transition of active sites.

• Kyrgyzstan's primary mining laws, such as the Law on Subsoil, are regularly updated to improve transparency regarding beneficial owners and the licensing of natural resources, though frequent fiscal amendments create uncertainty for companies.
• The tax regime is viewed as fair in terms of rates, but is considered unpredictable due to an increase in the number of taxes since 2012 and opaque administration, which increases corruption risks.
• Technical guidelines for mining operations, including safety audits and mine closure, are outdated as many still rely on Soviet-era (GOST) state standards.
• Socioeconomic benefits are managed through 'social package' agreements and regional development funds, but these are often not linked to the results of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and lack specific requirements.
• Environmental legislation is perceived as contradictory and confusing for companies, and there is a lack of evidence that companies perform self-monitoring of environmental impacts.
• Current legislation does not specifically address the responsible management of mine-related infrastructure like tailings facilities and waste dumps during closure, focusing instead on general land restoration.
• The government is working to mitigate legacy impacts from Soviet-era uranium mining, specifically addressing over 60 radioactive sites with international support.
• Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) provides livelihoods for approximately 5,500 people through accessible permits, but the sector is under-legislated and lacks oversight regarding health, safety, and environmental risks.

APA

Lawrence, P., Sydykova, A., Doolotkeldieva, D. A., Jorupbekova, A., Crawford, A., & Bliss, M. (2018). IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Kyrgyzstan. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/kyrgyzstan-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf

Chicago

Lawrence, Paul, Altynai Sydykova, Dr. Asel Doolotkeldieva, Aicholpon Jorupbekova, Alec Crawford, and Matthew Bliss. IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Kyrgyzstan. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/kyrgyzstan-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{lawrence2018igf, author = {Lawrence, Paul and Sydykova, Altynai and Doolotkeldieva, Dr. Asel and Jorupbekova, Aicholpon and Crawford, Alec and Bliss, Matthew}, title = {{IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Kyrgyzstan}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/kyrgyzstan-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }