The transfer of diesel fuel and other supplies from Centerra Gold’s Kumtor marshalling yard to the mine has resumed after voluntary lifting of a roadblock. Transfers to the mine were disrupted last week by an illegal roadblock set up by a small group of protestors seeking greater benefits from the project.
The marshalling yard is in the town of Balykchy in the Issyk-Kul Region of the Kyrgyz Republic and about 270km from the Kumtor mine.
While the roadblock restricted the transfer of supplies to the mine site from the marshalling yard, the main road access to the Kumtor mine was not affected.
In response to the disruption of supplies, the company began to reduce operating staff and reduced mining activities in the open pit. The Kumtor mill facility continued to operate at normal capacity during the disruption.
The voluntary lifting of the roadblock saw Centerra resume normal operations at Kumtor. The interruption will not affect the company’s 2011 production and cost guidance.
Centerra is a North American-based gold mining company focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring gold properties primarily in Asia, the former Soviet Union and other emerging markets worldwide. It is the largest Western-based gold producer in Central Asia.