Central Asian neighbor Kyrgyzstan shifts its coal industry toward China
As Kyrgyzstan seeks to develop new transportation networks and infrastructure to boost exports to its western neighbors, the country's coal is increasingly flowing toward China.
The Torugart-1 coal mine in Naryn Province, near the border between Kyrgyzstan and China, has begun operations with a new coal washing and beneficiation production line. The project is jointly implemented by Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned coal company Kyrgyzkomur and China’s Dun-Sen Group.
According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy, the new equipment aims to improve coal quality and reduce environmental impacts from coal mining and processing.
The joint development agreement for the Torugart-1 coal mine was signed on May 13, 2025. Geological surveys have confirmed that the mine covers an area of 54 hectares with coal reserves of approximately 423,400 tons. The mine will be developed using open-pit mining methods, with expected output exceeding 100,000 tons in 2026. Chinese companies have invested around $2 million in this project.
"The commissioning of such facilities holds significant strategic importance for ensuring energy security, supplying high-quality coal to the domestic market, and supporting regional development," said Energy Minister Talaybek Ibragimov.
The Torugart-1 coal mine began operations in November 2025. Shortly after, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adilbek Kasymaliev visited the site and instructed officials to ensure stable operations while accelerating coal exports through the Torugart border crossing, which connects Kyrgyzstan with China.
The development of the Torugart-1 coal mine is part of a broader strategy by Kyrgyzstan aimed at expanding coal exports to China.
On May 20, 2026, officials launched a $430 million Kyrgyzstan-China logistics project in Nur village, Osh Region.
The project is being implemented by Kyrgyzkomur and Xinjiang Dacheng Yuanyong Technology Co., Ltd. of China. Its main objective is to facilitate coal exports from the Tekrikkol coal mine via the Irkeshtam border crossing into China.
The planned logistics hub spans 10 hectares and will include two coal processing plants and a conveyor belt system designed to transport coal directly to export routes.
Once completed, this infrastructure is expected to handle up to 10 million tons of coal annually. Phase one includes construction of a 7.7-kilometer-long conveyor belt, with long-term plans to extend it to 157 kilometers.
Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to expand coal production coincide with growing Chinese demand for Kyrgyz coal.
As previously reported by Central Asia Times, the volume of coal shipped to China has been steadily increasing, with Torugart and Irkeshtam border crossings serving as primary export channels.
On December 3, 2025, the Kyrgyz government announced a six-month ban on coal road exports to stabilize domestic coal supply and prices. This move comes amid Kyrgyzstan’s ongoing efforts to alleviate pressure on its power system, which remains heavily dependent on hydropower and faces frequent electricity shortages during winter when heating and power demands surge.
However, the export ban does not apply to shipments through the Torugart and Irkeshtam border crossings.
These projects are of great significance to Kyrgyzkomur and cross-border trade with China, despite the relatively small scale of the Torugart-1 mine nationwide. With only about 423,400 tons of reserves, it is negligible compared to Kyrgyzstan’s total coal production of 4.396 million tons in 2024. Even the projected output of over 100,000 tons in 2026 represents just a small fraction of the country’s annual production.
In 2024, Kyrgyzstan exported 1.1 million tons of coal worth $52.7 million. Uzbekistan remained its largest coal buyer, while exports to China saw a sharp increase. According to Chinese customs data, Kyrgyzstan’s coal imports into China reached approximately 141,000 tons worth nearly $7 million in 2024, with projections indicating a drop to 89,000 tons worth $4 million in 2025.
The latest investments signal that Bishkek views coal not only as a safeguard for domestic energy security but also as a growing export commodity capable of strengthening economic ties with its largest neighboring market.
Source: Central Asia Times
Author: Sergey Guan
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866804803021828/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.