Centerra Says Seized Kyrgyzstan Mine Flooded, Endangering Site

  • Kumtor pit may have at least 40 meters of water, company says
  • Administrator says the claims don’t ‘correspond with reality’
Kumtor Gold Co. says this photo of the bottom its the open-pit mine in Kyrgyzstan was taken in August.Source: Kumtor Gold Co.
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Centerra Gold Inc. is claiming a Kyrgyz open-pit mine it once ran has flooded and poses safety and environmental risks, although the government-appointed administrator says the water has always been there.

There may be at least 40 meters (131 feet) of water at the bottom of the Kumtor central pit, the Canadian mining company said Tuesday in a statement, citing photos on Kumtor Gold Co.’s website and a company video posted mid August on Facebook.