Kumtor Gold Company has officially launched a tire recycling plant in Tokmok, Chui region, marking what local reports describe as the first facility of its kind in Kyrgyzstan. The plant began operating in test mode in August 2023 and was formally inaugurated in September 2026, with President Sadyr Japarov joining the ceremony online. The project combines tire recycling and tire restoration in two separate workshops and is intended to reduce the amount of end-of-life tires sent to uncontrolled disposal while creating domestic outlets for recycled rubber. At full operation, the facility is expected to produce up to 6,000 tonnes of rubber crumb per year for applications including rubber tiles, mats and safety surfaces for sports and children’s playgrounds. The project represents a significant step in developing Kyrgyzstan’s tire recycling infrastructure and creating a more circular use of rubber resources.

Plant combines tire recycling and restoration

The Tokmok facility includes two main workshops. One processes tires that are no longer suitable for further use, while the second is dedicated to restoring tires that can still be returned to service.

Tires arriving at the plant are first sorted. Those suitable for restoration are directed to the restoration workshop, while fully worn tires are sent for processing into rubber crumb.

Production capacity reaches 6,000 tonnes per year

When the plant reaches full operation in four shifts, it is expected to produce up to 6,000 tonnes of rubber crumb annually. Earlier operational information from the facility indicated processing capacity of around 150 tonnes of waste tires per month depending on available feedstock.

The recycled rubber can be used to manufacture rubber tiles, mats and impact-absorbing surfaces for sports facilities and playgrounds. These applications provide domestic end markets for material recovered from end-of-life tires.

Kumtor developed the $19.2 million project

The tire recycling facility was implemented by Kumtor Gold Company, with the overall project cost reported at approximately $19.2 million. The plant had already been operating in test mode for several years before its official launch.

The company is one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest industrial enterprises, and the new facility extends its activities into waste tire recovery and circular economy applications.

Restored tires tested on mining equipment

The plant’s tire restoration workshop is designed to extend the useful life of tires that remain suitable for reuse. Restored tires have already been tested on heavy machinery operating at the Kumtor mine.

Extending tire life through restoration can reduce raw material consumption and delay the point at which tires enter the recycling stream. This approach places reuse and restoration alongside material recycling within the facility’s overall tire management strategy.

Facility can accept tires from third parties

The Tokmok plant has received a license for waste disposal and recycling, allowing it to provide paid tire disposal services to outside organizations. This expands the facility’s potential feedstock beyond tires generated by Kumtor’s own operations.

Access to third-party tire volumes could help the plant build a broader collection and recycling network and support more systematic management of end-of-life tires across Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan faces growing waste tire volumes

Kyrgyzstan has nearly 2 million vehicles, according to local reports. With tires typically remaining in service for several years, the country generates a substantial and recurring stream of end-of-life tires that requires organized collection, reuse and recycling.

Without sufficient recycling capacity, waste tires can accumulate at disposal sites or enter informal handling routes. Domestic processing capacity can reduce these risks while creating secondary raw materials for local manufacturing and infrastructure applications.

Project strengthens domestic tire recycling infrastructure

The official opening of the Tokmok plant represents an important development for Kyrgyzstan’s recycling sector. By combining tire restoration with rubber recycling, the facility can recover value from both reusable and fully worn tires rather than relying only on disposal.

The project also demonstrates how industrial companies can participate in circular economy systems by creating local demand for recycled rubber, supporting waste tire collection and developing new applications for tire-derived materials.

Article source www.24.kg.