
Kumtor open pit gold mine, the world's second highest gold mining operation is at the centre of a controversy.
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Located in the Tien Shan mountains near the Chinese border, Kumtor which means Sand Peak in the Turkic national language is located at more than 4,000 m (13,000 ft) above sea level.
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Kumtor is 100 per cent owned by the Canadian mining company, Centerra Gold, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kumtor Gold Company.
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The mine started operation in 1997 and produced more than 5.8 million ounces (180,000 kg) of gold through the end of 2006.
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However, in mid June 2012, the Kyrgyz Parliament issued a resolution to review Kumtor's compliance with relevant operational, environmental, health and safety and community standards.
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Stopping short of voting to nationalise the Kumtor mine, lawmakers instead directed the government to revise the contract, which gives Kyrgyzstan a 33 per cent stake in the company while Centerra retains full ownership of the mine and its output.
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Nationalists in Kyrgyzstan are protesting against the government for allegedly selling off the gold mine to foreigners at cheap rates.
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Workers wearing heatproof overalls pour molten gold from a crucible into moulds in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains, some 350 kilometres (218 miles) southeast of the capital Bishkek near the Chinese border.
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A worker wearing heatproof overalls carries a mould with molten gold alloy in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains.
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Workers wearing heatproof overalls carry a gold alloy bars in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains.
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Moulds with hot molten gold alloy are seen in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains.
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A worker cleans poured gold alloy bars in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains.
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A worker holds a polished gold alloy bar in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains, some 350 kilometres (218 miles) southeast of the capital Bishkek near the Chinese border.
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An operator works in a control room at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains, some 350 kilometres (218 miles) southeast of the capital Bishkek near the Chinese border.
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KOC employs around 3,400 full-time and contract workers and Kumtor mine in the Tien Shan mountains.
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A general view of Kumtor open pit gold mine in the Tien Shan mountains, some 350 kilometres (218 miles) southeast of the capital Bishkek near the Chinese border.
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Polished gold alloy bars in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory.
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A poured gold alloy bar is seen before polishing in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains.
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A worker stamps polished gold alloy bars in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory in the Tien Shan mountains.
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A hot poured gold alloy bar which has been turned out from a mould is seen in a workshop at Kumtor gold mine extraction factory.