Mines built during the Soviet-era have left a lasting impact on the central Georgian town of Chiatura. In recent years, the mines have faced frequent labour strikes, and protests over the collapse of the nearby villages of Shukruti and Itkhvisi.
Since 28 February, thousands of miners have been holding protests demanding that the state protect the rights of Georgian Manganese employees.
The company previously announced that it wouldn’t resume underground mining, citing ‘unprofitability’ as protests against the company continue.
Locals warn that the company’s choice to carry out open-pit mining poses a bigger environmental risk.
Georgian Manganese is the sole owner of a license to operate mines in the central Georgian municipality of Chiatura.
The Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant and all manganese mines in Chiatura, both owned by the mining company Georgian Manganese, have temporarily stopped work until 1 March 2025. On Thursday, Georgian Manganese published a statement saying that until 1 March, a temporary management regime would operate at the Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant. The plant is Georgia’s largest silicomanganese processing plant. Georgian Manganese is the largest mining and ferroalloy manufacturing company in Georgia, where
Residents of Shukruti protesting against Georgian Manganese have ended their protest in Tbilisi after two weeks of unsuccessful negotiations. The protesters had demanded an assessment by the National Forensics Bureau of their property, as well as to receive adequate compensation from the company for the destruction of their homes during mining operations under the village in Chiatura, western Georgia. One of the protesters, Tamuna Kupatadze, told OC Media that they could not agree with th
Residents of the village of Shukruti who have been protesting the destruction of their village outside the Georgian parliament have agreed to end their hunger strike after 43 days, to begin negotiations with the mining company. The Chiatura Management Company, which runs the mines in and around the central Georgian town of Chiatura, agreed to begin negotiations with the protesters after the government intervened. On Sunday, Rati Ionatamashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, me
