 The Kara-Keche mines were developed during the Soviet era, with first production in 1985.After independence they were partly privatised, though the main mine remained under the 70% state-owned firm Ak-Ulak.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.