Ministry of Natural Resources
The Ministry of Natural Resources grants mining leases and concessions under the Hydrocarbon and Mining Code of 1995, licenses the sources of ore, sets the conditions for tailings and mine safety, keeps the forests and protected areas of the Zone through the Forestry and Protected Areas Service, and runs the Plant Quarantine Inspectorate. Until 2006 it was the territorial Department of Natural Resources, headed by a secretary.
Announcements
The hearing on the application of the Chatkal Chemical Smelting Complex to restart its mercury recovery unit will be held at the Rudnik house of culture on 26 November 2026 at 15:00. Written comments are received until 10 December. Details.
From 1 January 2027 a licensed processor may accept antimony ore only from a licensed mine, with a delivery note naming the licence. Ore gathered by hand outside a licensed working may not be bought.
The ministry has published its notice on the restart of the idle lines of the Sary-Bulak Antimony Works and the Chatkal Chemical Smelting Complex: about 600 jobs and US$25 million, counting contractors. Recruitment is by the Combine.
Bodies of the ministry
- Forestry and Protected Areas Service: Besh-Tash National Park, the Irad part of Aksu-Zhabagly, the Kyrk-Kazyk Caves; Besh-Tash Ranger Headquarters at Kök-Oi; Chatkal Wildlife Protection Post.
- Plant Quarantine Inspectorate: phytosanitary certificates and checks of imported seed, plants and produce.
- Chatkal Placer Mining Inspectorate: inspection of mines, tailings facilities and placer workings in Sary-Bulak District.
- Red Data Book of the ISEZ (2012).
The ministry is represented on the Supervisory Board of the Iradi Antimony and Rare Metals Combine (iarmc.com). Electricity and the Toktogul complex are the business of the Department of Energy and Iradenergo.