On April 23, 2026 local time, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, applause in the signing hall dispelled the chill of the plateau. Wu Runhua, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Ruilin Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., and Toktosunov Kanimet Bolotovich, Executive Chairman of Kumtor Operations Company, solemnly wrote on the contract text. This EPC general contract worth 112.8 million US dollars is not only a business, but also a crucial step for Kyrgyzstan to achieve its dream of "mining independence" - a modern beneficiation plant and tailings pond with an annual processing capacity of 500000 tons of ore will be built by a Chinese technical team in Togoluk, at an altitude of about 3200 meters.

Deliver key projects within 24 months

The Togolok gold mine is located in the Jeji Oguz district of Issyk Kul, in a remote high-altitude area, about 550 kilometers away from the capital city of Bishkek. Although there are over 16 tons of gold reserves here, the resources have been dormant for a long time due to weak infrastructure. After obtaining the development permit in August 2023, Kumtor Operations Company entrusted the task of "activating" this mine to China Ruilin.

Clear core indicators of the project:

Construction period: Strictly lock in 24 months. China Ruilin will be responsible for the full chain general contracting from design, procurement to construction, ensuring that the project produces the first batch of gold around 2027.

Project volume: The contract amount is 112.8 million US dollars, mainly for the construction of a beneficiation plant, tailings pond, and supporting projects. After completion, the annual ore processing capacity will reach 500000 tons, which will greatly improve the resource conversion efficiency of the mining area.

Strategic significance: This is the first large-scale mining project in Kyrgyzstan to be fully implemented with domestic funds and resources. China's Ruilin's technological intervention is seen as a technological bridge for the country's mining industry to shift from relying on foreign investment to independent development.

Why choose Chinese technology?  

Kyrgyzstan is known as the "Golden Country of Central Asia", and mining is the core pillar of its national economy. Large mineral deposits such as the Kumtor gold mine have been operated by foreign capital for a long time, leading to shortcomings in mining management and deep processing technology in the country. Despite the development plan for the mining industry from 2015 to 2035, problems such as outdated infrastructure and low resource utilization efficiency have always hindered the upgrading of its mining industry.

The signing of the Togoluk project accurately hit this pain point. At the signing ceremony, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kumtor Operating Company, Borotbek Yijisov, bluntly stated that the project has "milestone significance". By introducing the EPC model of China Ruilin, Jilin not only hopes to obtain a modern factory, but also hopes to enhance the integrity of its mining industry chain through technology transfer and local talent cultivation. The commitment of China Ruilin to strictly abide by the bottom line of safety and environmental protection and its localized operation strategy also meets the urgent needs of Kyrgyzstan for sustainable development.

Leading from China to landing in Central Asia

For China Ruilin, the Togoluk project is a key entry point for expanding its strategic market in Central Asia. As a leading enterprise in the field of non-ferrous metal mining engineering in China, China Ruilin has previously undertaken major domestic projects such as the Yinzhushan Lead Zinc Silver Mine and the Summer Hamu Nickel Cobalt Mine beneficiation project, and has accumulated rich experience in underground infrastructure construction in overseas projects such as the Kamoya Copper Cobalt Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This signing is another overseas expansion of China Ruilin's technological strength. Hu Hu, a member of the company's party committee and deputy general manager, stated that a professional team will be established to strictly control project quality. Constructing a beneficiation plant in a high-altitude area at an altitude of 3200 meters faces challenges such as harsh climate and long logistics chains. China Ruilin will utilize its technological expertise in high-altitude mining engineering to ensure timely delivery of the project. This is not only a commercial cooperation, but also another successful export of China's mining engineering and technical standards in Central Asia, which has injected substantial momentum into the high-quality development of the the Belt and Road.

With the signing of the contract, the construction clock of the Togoluk gold mine has officially begun. In the next two years, engineers from Ruilin China will work side by side with the Kyrgyzstan team to build modern industrial facilities at the foot of the snow capped mountains. This beneficiation plant will not only extract gold, but also enhance the trust and win-win situation between China and Kyrgyzstan in the mining industry.Editor/Yang Meiling