{{Short description|Coal mining area in Kyrgyzstan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Location map|Kyrgyzstan |coordinates = {{coord|41|42|36|N|74|45|36|E}} |caption=Location of Karakeche in Kyrgyzstan}} thumb|Coal mine in Karakeche, Naryn region '''Karakeche''' ({{langx|ky|Каракече}}, also ''Kara-Keche'') is a coal mining area in Jumgal District, Naryn Region, Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the valley of the river Karakeche (Naryn basin), between the mountain ranges Moldo Too and Kabak Too, 25–30 km south of Chaek.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://new.bizdin.kg/media/books/География_Кыргызстана.pdf|title=Каракече көмүр кени|trans-title=Karakeche coal deposit|encyclopedia=Кыргызстандын Географиясы [Geography of Kyrgyzstan]|page=157|language=ky|year=2004|location=Bishkek}}</ref> It is the site of five open cast coal mines, source of around half of Kyrgyzstan's national coal production<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav040706.shtml|title=Eurasianet Report 2006|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref> with estimated reserves of 438 million tonnes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav042109i.shtml|title=Eurasia Report 2009|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref> This coal is mostly sent to Bishkek via the railway at Balykchy. The extension of that railway all the way to Karakeche was proposed in 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://akipress.com/news:520371/|title=Kyrgyz Government plans to construct Balykchy-Kara-Keche railway to resolve coal transportation problem|website=akipress.com|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref> while other reports have suggested that the mines might be offered to China in return for the construction of a trans-Kyrgyzstan railway linking Andijan, Uzbekistan with Kashgar, China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav042109i.shtml|title=Eurasianet $2 billion railway report|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref>
On 31 March 2022, President Sadyr Japarov officially launched construction of the new 186 km railway from Balykchy to Karakeche.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/kyrgyz-president-launches-construction-of-railway-to-kara-keche/61435.article|title=Kyrgyz president launches construction of railway to Kara-Keche|first=Railway Gazette|last=International |date=2022-04-25 |website=Railway Gazette International|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref>
==History== The Kara-Keche mines were developed during the Soviet era, with first production in 1985.<ref>[http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/coal/as/kg/p0005.htm MBendi Report]</ref> After independence they were partly privatised, though the main mine remained under the 70% state-owned firm Ak-Ulak.<ref>[http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/coal/as/kg/p0005.htm MBendi 2004 report]</ref> According to news reports, local people believed that smaller privately owned operating companies, Joldoshbaev's ''Besh-Sary'', Isabaev's ''Meerim-Sharbon'' and Sasykulov ''Ak-Jol'', had asset stripped their respective operations and made little attempt to comply with basic financial or environmental standards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msn.kg/ru/news/11721/|title=Десант во взрывоопасный Кара–Кече - «МСН» - новости Кыргызстана|website=msn.kg|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref> Whether or not this was true, the mines were dramatically seized on 6 June 2005 by people claiming allegiance to the Joomart movement of Jumgal politician Nurlan Motuev, in what Motuev reportedly described as an attempt at redistribution of wealth relevant to the March revolution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://iwpr.net/report-news/kyrgyz-politicians-feel-publics-wrath|title=IWPR Report|access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref> Motuev later served a prison sentence for the seizure, and in 2012 called for the mines' nationalisation.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-305901413/new-kyrgyz-patriotic-movement.html New Kyrgyz Patriotic Movement] accessmylibrary.com {{dead link|date=November 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{coord|41|42|36|N|74|45|36|E|region:KG|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karakeche}} Category:Mines in Kyrgyzstan