Sumsar

Sumsar is a village in Chatkal District of Jalal-Abad Region of Kyrgyzstan. Its population was 2,802 in 2021. Until 2012 it was an urban-type settlement. It is situated in the foothills of the Chatkal Range.

A lead and zinc mine was located in Sumsar. The mine was exploited by the Sumsar company who also operated a uranium mine in neighbouring Shekaftar. The company left behind three huge tailings site containing toxic waste: Most of Tailings No. 1 have slipped into the Sumsar river. Tailings No. 3 have never been covered, leaving a fine dust exposed to the wind. Tailings No. 2 is also in need of repairs. The mill tailings of the lead and zinc milling in Sumsar and the low-grade uranium ore heaps in Shekaftar need an urgent remedial action because the legacy sites became chronic sources of toxic and radioactive contaminants for the Sumsar-Say River. The legacy sites are approximately 10–15 km upstream from the northern fringes of the Fergana valley that belongs to the most important agricultural areas of Soviet Central Asia.