Mineral Resources
The main problem lies in the fact that mineral deposits in the mountains, first, are not used fully, and, secondly, they jeopardize the development of mountain ecosystems. Kyrgyzstan is rich in minerals, which could be used to meet the needs of the national resource and as a source of income for people and the Government. The problem which stands before the country – can these resources be developed economically and environmentally sound manner. This problem becomes more acute, given the continuing seismic activity in the area.
Previous mining has led to the emergence of environmental risk in the form of burial of hazardous waste. As a result of an inefficient system of environmental monitoring and control lacks reliable information on the size and condition of the graves and their potential and actual impact on the environment.
Ineffective monitoring and control system contributes to the growth of environmental risk from the development of fields themselves. Imperfect legislation and ineffective enforcement of existing legislation on mining developments enhance the ecological risk of exploitation of mineral resources.
Because of the difficulties with the administration and the legislation there is a shortage of both foreign and local investment in the mining industry. But we need large investments to upgrade equipment and technology to make mining profitable. There is a lack of basic intelligence to attract investors in this sector.
Strategy and objectives of the sector.
The purpose of this sector is to achieve long-term and environmentally sound use of natural resources, which brought a revenue strane.Eta mountain residents and not just concerned with the problem of Kyrgyzstan. Abuse of the environment was one of the results that industry has brought to mankind in the past, in return for apparently cheap natural resources. The traditional attitude toward nature as a free resource has resulted in the destruction of natural ecosystems. 6.000 hectares of land contaminated by radiation, and approximately 145 million tons of radioactive waste is in landfills and tailings. Direct negative effects of mining resources can be strengthened in the mountains with their very fragile ecosystem and over long periods of recovery after surgery. Learn more about http://www.hermitagejewelers.com/
The consequences of damage to the environment heavily laid on the shoulders of the population of the mountains. As in Kyrgyzstan, all past mining took place mainly by the Government of the former Soviet Union, no corporation can not be held liable for it.
In the Kyrgyz Government is clearly not enough financial resources to address the harm caused by past development, so it seems inevitable that only the most dangerous places of burial of mining waste can be disposed of to avoid contamination of water. And even this is not possible without support from donors. The knowledge and experience necessary to obtain this support, known around the world, and even partially available for Central Asia.
In addition to reducing the risk of development of deposits from the previous Government's attention should be directed at limiting the harm to the environment in future due to development. In this regard, you need to update legislation in line with international environmental law, is widely used by other countries in recent decades, access to which was better. No less than the legal framework, it is important and effective enforcement of legislation.
To the extent that, as for economic reasons, increasing the number of mines and mining reaches the highest peaks and most remote parts of the world, increasing the likelihood of harm to the environment. But it also increases the need to avoid it. Necessary to conduct an international study to obtain more Makmal mine. Violation of a detailed knowledge of the natural landscape of the natural processes occurring in the mountains, the biological relationship of mountain habitats and human ecology in mountain areas. Kyrgyzskie professionals can contribute to this study.
The best access to modern technologies are working on major international mining company resources. Agenda 21 refers directly to transnational corporations with a request to contribute to reducing environmental damage from mining minerals, to work responsibly and efficiently and to carry out long-term policy in this direction. At the request multinationals meet an adequate assessment of environmental problems, and applying a set of rules for the protection of the environment in their work. In this way they set the standard work for smaller companies for the extraction of minerals.
A more serious problem is not transnational corporations for the extraction of minerals, and smaller companies with good political connections, who defy the law, bribe the local community to ignore the risk of harm to the environment and do not make sufficient contributions to the existing and potential costs of its recovery. Along with multinational financial institutions, large companies for the extraction of minerals from their access to modern technology, capital and global potential of knowledge, it is easier to understand the economic necessity of compromise in favor of protecting the environment and the associated good image than smaller companies who are in debt state and, driven by a need to survive in this harsh world.
Unfortunately, many mines are closed, because metal prices are falling and finance companies are exhausted. Even where there is a desire to restore the rich places of production, may not have resources to implement this idea. It may be easier to abandon mining in the mountains, where people are less and less political interests than in the more densely populated plains. Therefore, the attention of the nation should focus on other issues, to keep the potential of the mountains, for example, on issues of tourism development, as well as rational use of water potential, which is of great importance for the whole of Central Asia.
In the future environmental conditions may improve, as most of the new world of mining operations carried out in large mines, managed a small number of major corporations that use responsible and acceptable approaches to the environment, and in countries where governments have sufficient authority, the necessary for the imposition of contractual obligations to these corporations.
However, the activities of mining operations is not the only threat of harm to the environment. Activities for exploration of large reservoirs is much wider spread than the actual production. Only one of the hundreds of potential reservoirs studied developed an operating mine.
Studies from the air are not harmful to the environment, but the intelligence on the ground can lead to significant violations. In the latter case it may be a problem, after the collapse of research related to the difficulty of remediation of the environment. In these cases, the state should require the use of technologies and detailed studies.
Attracting Investors
Do you have a chance to Kyrgyzstan to attract international companies for mining operations are concentrated in its mountains? Until recently, the mountains are relatively inaccessible, and because of this and other reasons for delayed exploration, mountain remained relatively unexplored, and their potential was still high. Technological innovation, expansion of transportation networks and other advantages have made the mountains more accessible from the ground. Helicopters and airplanes have opened access to the air. Progress was also made of advanced technologies more open to the mountain mining minerals.
The location of deposits in the mountains or on the outside is not really any significant deterrent or motivating factor when it comes to the choice of potential development. The decision depends largely on the political stability and the laws of the country where you plan to develop than the geological potential of the region. In practice this means that investors are mostly favored by those countries which, in addition to promising fields and a stable political system, have lax requirements for monitoring the state of the environment. Other considerations such as existing infrastructure, geographic location and previous experience, basically, means little.
Secondary considerations include local topography and geographical conditions, can become very important factors when selecting a location for new development. Steep slopes can be on hand to miners, but the cost is usually added. The main disadvantage of steep slopes and causes a relative reduction of the economic viability of mining pits are relatively high transport costs. These costs create a strong incentive for waste disposal, which comprise the bulk of the ore mined, as close to mine.
The voltage on the human body works at high altitude is a hindrance to productivity and, possibly, long-term threat to the health of workers and future financial obligations of employers. The same effect can have a low temperature, and also a big difference in day and night temperatures, which is typical for the mountains (heat stress).
An alternative could be an opportunity and a great potential for generating hydroelectric power of the mountains. The available energy is a valuable resource for the population in mountain areas. In general, Kyrgyzstan, with its difficult to mineral resources is not the most suitable option for corporations for the extraction of minerals. However, this does not mean that there is no chance (for example, Kumtor gold mines). Efforts should focus on dealing with multinational corporations in mining, with extensive experience in working with the environment. This policy must be accompanied by amendments of the existing legal system, to be fair and clear in terms of protecting the environment and applying it consistently.
Possible actions.
Need to increase public awareness of the dangers of mining industry on the environment, through the dissemination of information relating to this threat, including instructions for protection. These actions must be accompanied by the establishment of an independent regulatory body that will monitor and control the environmental risks associated with the activities of mining operations. Information obtained in investigations should be summarized in a map of the area with the existing threats and environmental degradation.
The regional program to eliminate threats from the grave to the neighboring states to be achieved by agreement and adopted a security program for hazardous waste disposal. It will also reduce costs for Kyrgyzstan. However, the costs to be acceptable to all parties to find and use low-cost technologies.
In addition to the above strategy to search for new investors in the mining sector deposits, which includes the improvement of legislation, it is necessary to mitigate the administrative procedures to attract foreign investors. There should also be careful to develop methods to obtain a reliable base of information through the organization and conduct of research and preparation of a feasibility study on the feasibility of profitable exploitation of mineral deposits environmentally friendly way that will further improve conditions to attract investors.