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IAEA, Russia’s ROSATOM to cooperate in rehabilitation of uranium legacy facilities in Central Asia

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. Continue reading

Plan to clean up Central Asia uranium mining legacy signed

BISHKEK (TCA) — 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 on September 18, the EBRD reported on its website. Kyrgyzstan and Russia have 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. In order to ensure a coordinated, timely and cost-effective approach in accordance with international conventions and agreements, the Plan ranks remediation measures in terms of risks and priorities. It also develops an integrated approach for evaluating the remediation needs of each site. All of this flows into a programme detailing precisely the main tasks or activities, along with schedules, key milestones and costs. The total cost of all measures outlined in the Plan is estimated at €210 million. Of this amount, €56 million has already been made available by the EU, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the World Bank. Work on the seven priority sites that will be covered by ERA is estimated to cost €85 million. While so far the European Commission is the sole contributor to ERA, with €16 million, a donor conference in 2018 will aim to close the funding gap. Balthasar Lindauer, EBRD Deputy Director, Nuclear Safety, said: “We welcome the agreement on the Strategic Master Plan. This key document will be our joint roadmap for addressing the urgent issue of the legacy of uranium mining in Central Asia. Today’s signing marks very important progress and also demonstrates the determination of all parties present today to address this challenge. We appeal to the international community to join this effort to create a safe and healthy environment for the people of Central Asia.” 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.

Kazakhstan’s NGO receives UNDP’s Equator Prize

ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s Public Foundation Zhassyl Azyk has received the Equator Prize in an award ceremony on September 17 in New York. Zhassyl Azyk was selected as the recipient of the prestigious award along with fifteen other organizations from twelve countries. This is the first time when a non-governmental organization from Kazakhstan is receiving this honorary prize, the UNDP in Kazakhstan reported. Continue reading

Kyrgyzstan and Centerra reach settlement concerning Kumtor gold project

BISHKEK (TCA) — Centerra Gold Inc., the Canadian-based gold mining company operating Kyrgyzstan’s Kumtor gold mine, on September 11 said that the Company and its Kyrgyz subsidiaries — Kumtor Gold Company (KGC) and Kumtor Operating Company (KOC) — have entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement with the Government of Kyrgyzstan. The Agreement, among others, provides for full and final resolution of all existing arbitral and environmental claims, disputes, proceedings and court orders, Centerra said. The existing 2009 agreements governing the Kumtor Project remain in full force and effect, including the tax and fiscal regime. KGC has agreed to make a one-time lump sum payment totaling US$57 million to a new, government-administered Nature Development Fund (US$50 million) and to a new, government administered Cancer Care Support Fund (US$7 million) and within 12 months of closing make a further one-time payment of US$3 million to the Cancer Care Support Fund. “First and foremost, this agreement is a comprehensive resolution to all of the outstanding matters affecting the Kumtor Project,” Scott Perry, Centerra Gold’s Chief Executive Officer, said after the signing of the agreement in Bishkek. “Our arrangement provides for the lifting of all restrictions on the freedom of movement of KGC employees as well as the restrictions on the ability of Kumtor to distribute funds to Centerra. The agreement also provides business certainty for future mining operations at the Kumtor Project, as it preserves all rights of the Company, KGC and KOC under the Kumtor Project Agreements and, in order to receive full payment, requires continued compliance by the Government with a number of conditions precedent that are designed to protect Centerra, KGC and KOC. Lastly, this agreement represents a symbol of commitment from Centerra and the Kyrgyz Republic Government, a commitment not only to stability for foreign investment in the Kyrgyz Republic but a commitment to the environment, health and wellbeing of the citizens of Kyrgyzstan.” Sapar Isakov, Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic commented, "We are pleased to have worked together with Kumtor and the Company to reach a solution regarding the Kumtor Project. It is encouraging to see the Company's commitment to the environment with the establishment and funding of a new Nature Development Fund. This new fund will help finance environmental conservation and nature preservation projects throughout Kyrgyzstan going forward. Additionally, the Company has strengthened its social responsibility by committing to fund a new Cancer Care Support Fund with contributions up to US$10 million and to provide stronger annual contributions to the environment and to Kumtor's existing reclamation trust fund. With the resolution of all the outstanding matters regarding the Kumtor Project we have established a new beneficial relationship with our country's largest enterprise and can look forward to a climate of economic stability which will encourage further foreign investment to grow our economy."

United States partners with Kyrgyzstan to save the snow leopard

BISHKEK (TCA) — For over 25 years, the United States has partnered with Kyrgyzstan on a diverse set of programs to ensure greater stability, prosperity, and security in the country, including programs for the protection of endangered species like the snow leopard, Kimberly Rosen, USAID Kyrgyz Republic Mission Director, said after Kyrgyzstan successfully hosted International Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Forum held in Bishkek August 23-25. The twelve snow leopard range-countries reaffirmed their strong support for the conservation of snow leopards and high mountain ecosystems and signed the Bishkek Declaration 2017: Caring for Snow Leopards and Mountains - Our Ecological Future. Continue reading

Kyrgyzstan one step closer to remediation of uranium legacy sites

BISHKEK (TCA) — The EU welcomes the swift ratification by Kyrgyzstan of an agreement that allows environmental remediation in a number of uranium legacy sites in the country to go ahead, the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic said on August 18. Continue reading