BISHKEK (TCA) — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM on September 18 signed the Practical Arrangements regarding the cooperation in rehabilitation of uranium legacy facilities in Central Asian republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Russian company said.
The Practical Arrangements are aimed at increasing efficiency of the interaction between ROSATOM and the IAEA in rehabilitation of former uranium production facilities in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In particular, the document provides for joint review of engineering solutions used in rehabilitation of the uranium legacy facilities, review of research results and measures for planning future activities, as well as joint development of strategies of participation in multi-sided projects.
Also on September 18, a Strategic Master Plan aimed to overcome the legacy of uranium mining in Central Asia was signed by Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the IAEA, the EC, and the EBRD at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, with Kyrgyzstan and Russia having confirmed their intention to join shortly.
The Plan was developed by a group of experts established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It sets out a detailed blueprint for the environmental remediation of priority sites in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
These three countries are in the scope of the Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia (ERA) established at the EBRD in 2015 at the initiative of the European Commission (EC). The fund will manage international donor support to deal with the challenges originating from legacy sites and affecting local populations and the environment.
Central Asia served as an important source of uranium in the former Soviet Union. A large amount of radioactively contaminated material was placed in the waste dumps and tailing sites of mines. Most of these mines were closed by 1995 but very little remediation work was done. The accumulated radioactive material in the region is a threat to the environment and to the health of local populations.
