Addressing primary mercury mining in Kyrgyzstan
Geography and geopolitics
Tole Bi By most standards Khaidarkan is remote, wedged in the Signi cant mercury reserves remain at deeper depths at Shu Talghar Kegen Saudakent Almaty precipitous mountains of south-west Kyrgyzstan and Khaidarkan, but investment has not been forthcoming T K A Z aA K H S T A N l Uzynaghash Narymkol Zhangatas a s reached by a narrow road over a 2,300-metre pass. The to allow their exploitation. Even if this were possible, Ch Korday u Tup Qaratau mercury mine and smelter date from 1941, from the there are also signi cant cash ow challenges, which Kara- Bishkek Kemin Balta Tokmok Cholpon-Ata Karakol Taraz days of the Soviet Union. The mine equipment and impact on workers’ pay. The region, much as many other Qulan Merke Belovodskoye Oytal Y s y k - K o l Kyzyt-Suu Bauyrzhan Kyzyl Balykchy infrastructure were located at Khaidarkan following regions in the former Soviet Union, has also experienced Momyshuly Adyr Talas Temirlan Kochkor Qarabulag Bokonbaev evacuation of industrial facilities from Ukraine during a signi cant “brain drain” of skilled workers, who have Aqsu Turar Rysqulov Kyzart Yshtyk the Second World War. The Khaidarkan region had left for better opportunities elsewhere. And beyond Shymkent Qtmok Song-Kol Aksu exploitable mercury deposits and it was unthinkable every calculation of survival there looms the reality of Lenger Chaek e Chakmak-Suu Toktogul H n a Toktogul k Wushy K Y R G Y Z S T A N x that the enemy could reach Central Asia. The the upcoming negotiation of a global legally binding Naryn o Qazyghurt Piskam Kara-Kol n T Nary Akqi remoteness of the mine, which was an advantage during instrument on mercury that will include provisions to Kurulush Dostuk Tash-Komur At-Bashy the war, is now considered a challenge to the further reduce the global supply of and demand for mercury. Chirchik Mayluu-Suu Ala-Buka Bazar- Parkent economic development of the region. However, there is loyal and strong support for the Kochkor-Ata Korgon Kok-Janggak Tashkent Yangiyol Angren Chust Namangan Jalalabad kombinat by the population in and around Khaidarkan. Uzgen Chatyr-Kol U Z B E K I S T A N Andijan Shahrikon S Almalyk Asaka y Sanchakou r Adrasman D Kokand Osh a Margilan Gulcho r y Kogart Bachu a Konibodom Ferghana Khujand r He Kayrakkum hga Bekobod Artux Kas Res. Isfara Ulugqat Wuqia e H Khaidarkan Jiashi nt rka Vorukh Sokh Sary-Tash Kashgar Ya Istarawshan Shule Daroot-Korgon u Opal Su zyl- C H I N A Ky Markit Akto Maji Yengisar Yarm Altyn Mazar 0 50 100 150 200 km rafshan Djajilan Za Nushor Karakul T A J I K I S T A N Karakul Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, August 2009
Navabad
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Mercury production in Kyrgyzstan
Mercury production in Kyrgyzstan in tonnes 800
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Khaidarkan feels like a frontier town, but a quiet one. Persons The future of the mine, the smelter and ultimately the Even the market seems relaxed and unhurried. The few in thousands town of Khaidarkan itself largely depends on how people in the streets are friendly enough to visitors, but mercury production can be replaced with other they do not bother to hide their concern about the 12 economic activities. Sustaining people’s livelihoods future of the kombinat – and their own. It is in every 1989 beyond cinnabar mining and processing will be the sense a company town. Not only does the town’s 10 2009 main objective and here the UN project and the Kyrgyz economy depend on the mercury mine – for example, action plan have sketched out potential solutions: irrigation water is also supplied directly by the 8 kombinat. The town is home to about 10,000 people. In • Gold mining 1989 3,500 of Khaidarkan’s townspeople were directly 6 employed by the kombinat. That number had fallen to • Industrial minerals 1,500 by the mid-1990s, and to 750 in 2008. The main alternative employment is agriculture – livestock, or 4 • Agriculture and small-scale development growing apples, potatoes, carrots and cereals. Some 40% of people in Batken province still earn less than the 2 minimum subsistence level. There are not many options for job-seekers in this district of south-western 0 Kyrgyzstan, which explains the anxiety in the town that Khaidarkan Khaidarkan the kombinat should continue working, even if it has to residents mine workers History nd a very di erent raison d’etre. This in turn probably helps to explain the apparent indi erence of many Mercury, to the Romans, was the messenger of the gods. The world’s governments agreed at the United Nations people in Khaidarkan to the possibility that they are Today’s mercury is more prosaic: a planet, and also a Environment Programme Governing Council in 2009 to living in a polluted environment. metal, known sometimes as quicksilver. It was widely prepare a legally binding instrument on mercury to pro- used in thermometers, scienti c instruments (due to its tect human health and the environment from mercury. unique chemicals properties), as well as many other The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is to de- products and processes. The use of mercury, however, is velop a comprehensive and suitable approach to mer- being reduced throughout the world due to its toxicity cury, including provisions to reduce the supply of mer- and the availability of substitutes. Certain forms of cury taking into account the circumstances of countries. mercury and its compounds can damage neurological Negotiations are to conclude in 2013. development and a ect internal organs. E ects are most pronounced in pregnant women, infants and There is now only one known mercury mine in children. Mercury can spread far and wide through air the world which continues to sell its output and water: it is found as far from industrial centres as the abroad: Khaidarkan, in the remote mountains of Arctic. It is ingested by sh and other marine life, where southern Kyrgyzstan. it becomes concentrated as it moves up the food chain.