A roundtable discussion on compliance with environmental legislation in subsoil use in the Chatkal District was held on August 15, 2025, at the meeting hall of the Chatkal District State Administration. The event was organized within the framework of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek’s project “Promoting Green Economy and Environmental Governance.”

The roundtable was attended by representatives from relevant departments of the Chatkal District State Administration, heads of the Tereg-Sai and Kanyish-Kyya aiyl okmotu, representatives from 11 mining companies operating in the Chatkal District, the Chief State Inspector of the Jalal-Abad Regional Department of the Service for Environmental and Technical Supervision under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as environmental activists.

Opening remarks were delivered by Ch. A. Abdykalykova, First Deputy Head of the Chatkal District State Administration, K. I. Isabaev, Director of the Aarhus Centre in Osh, and Zh. Aitmamatov, Chief State Inspector of the Jalal-Abad Regional Department of SETS under MNRETS KR. They highlighted the timeliness and importance of the roundtable.

A. Matisaev, a specialist from the Aarhus Centre, gave a presentation on the activities of the Aarhus Centre in Osh, as well as on environmental protection, ecological safety, and subsoil use legislation in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Chief State Inspector Zh. Aitmamatov provided information on the results of conducted raids, the impact of subsoil use on the environment and ecology, findings from recent inspections, the responsibility of subsoil user companies, the implementation of reclamation measures, and identified violations of environmental legislation.

Participants discussed issues related to strict compliance with environmental legislation in subsoil use, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and the mandatory conduct of reclamation works.

Following the discussions, the participants recommended the following proposals:

To ensure timely land reclamation in the process of subsoil use, introduce additions and amendments to the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Subsoil”, the “Regulation on the Procedure for Land Reclamation and their Commissioning,” approved by Resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 304 dated July 12, 1993, as well as the “Regulation on the Reclamation of Disturbed Lands in the Process of Subsoil Use,” approved by Resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 517 dated August 18, 2017.

The Chatkal District State Administration, in cooperation with relevant state bodies in the field of environmental protection and subsoil use, should conduct raids to inventory mining companies operating in the Chatkal District.

Ch. A. Abdykalykova, First Deputy Head of the Chatkal District State Administration, emphasized that the roundtable provided invaluable practical assistance to specialists of the district state administration in ensuring compliance with legislation during subsoil development.

Finally, K. Isabaev, Director of the Aarhus Centre, and Ch. A. Abdykalykova, First Deputy Head of the Chatkal District State Administration, expressed their readiness for continuous cooperation with all interested parties in environmental protection and subsoil use.

Atabek Matisaev, Specialist of the Aarhus Centre in Osh.