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radioactive waste

Approximately 200 Million Tons of Radioactive Waste Accumulated in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s soil is contaminated with radioactive waste, heavy metals, oil, and petroleum products, according to the Central Asia Climate Change and Green Energy Project Office (CACF). The total volume of radioactive materials is estimated at approximately 200 million tons. These findings are based on the 2024 National Report on the State of the Environment and Natural Resource Use. The document identifies widespread zones of excessive contamination with radionuclides, toxic substances, and heavy metals across the country. A Radioactive Legacy Radiation exposure to soil is considered the most hazardous form of contamination. Kazakhstan is home to six major uranium provinces, along with dozens of smaller deposits and ore occurrences, contributing to naturally elevated levels of radioactivity. Over the full operational period of the country’s uranium mining industry, an estimated 200 million tons of radioactive waste have been generated. Military infrastructure further compounds the environmental burden. Kazakhstan has four military test sites and the Baikonur rocket and space complex. The zones where rocket booster stages fall span vast areas of Karaganda, Ulytau, Akmola, Pavlodar, and East Kazakhstan regions. According to scientific data, approximately 9.5 million hectares of land are contaminated with the byproducts of rocket fuel combustion and debris. Elevated levels of radionuclides, heavy metals, and toxic compounds have been recorded in areas surrounding these facilities. Heavy Metals Intensify the Pressure Soil contamination is also acute near major cities and industrial centers, exacerbated by the growing number of motor vehicles. Additional pollution originates from metallurgical and mining operations. In areas around the towns of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Ridder, Zhezkazgan, Shymkent, and Karaganda, the concentrations of lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium significantly exceed permissible limits. In the Syr Darya River plains of the Kyzylorda region, lead concentrations are double the legal threshold, while nickel levels exceed standards by roughly 1.5 times. Soil degradation is further aggravated by salinization caused by the discharge of highly mineralized drainage water. Billions of Tons of Industrial Waste All of Kazakhstan’s industrial regions now contain ecologically hazardous zones, including slag heaps, tailings ponds, mining dumps, and quarries. These collectively cover more than 60,000 hectares. Enterprises in the non-ferrous metallurgy sector alone have generated over 22 billion tons of industrial waste, including around 4 billion tons of mining byproducts. Of this, more than 1 billion tons consist of toxic enrichment waste, and over 100 million tons are metallurgical waste. According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan's total industrial waste volume has reached 31.5 billion tons. More than 1 billion tons of new waste are produced each year, with roughly 70% consisting of man-made mineral formations such as overburden and ash. Oil Pollution: A Persistent Challenge Oil contamination is another major environmental threat. In western Kazakhstan, nearly 200,000 hectares of land are affected by oil and petroleum products. The total volume of oil spills exceeds 5 million tons. The highest levels of pollution have been recorded in the Atyrau region near the Makat field, where petroleum concentrations in soil surpass regulatory limits by more than 1,000 times. Severe pollution...

Environment

Tajikistan Struggles to Fund Cleanup of Soviet-Era Uranium Waste

Tajikistan continues to grapple with the extensive environmental legacy of the Soviet-era uranium industry. Tens of millions of tons of radioactive waste still pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Addressing this legacy will require hundreds of millions of dollars and sustained international support. Uranium mining in Tajikistan began in the 1940s in areas including Taboshar, Adrasman, and nearby settlements. After mining operations were shut down, the country was left with abandoned mines, underground tunnels, and extensive tailings ponds containing more than 55 million tons of radioactive waste across an area exceeding 170 hectares. In 2023, partial rehabilitation work was completed in Taboshar, where 7.6 million tons of waste, representing 17.5 percent of the total, were remediated. The Tajik government has agreed to continue cooperation with Russia, which is expected to allocate approximately $17 million for the reclamation of selected facilities. However, the most hazardous areas remain unaddressed. These include early-stage Taboshar tailings ponds, underground workings, and the Degmai complex. International consultants Wismut GmbH, WISUTEC GmbH, and GEOS estimate that restoring the Taboshar facilities will require approximately $9.5 million, while reclamation of the Degmai tailings pond is expected to cost about $27 million. All of these sites are included in the International Atomic Energy Agency master plan and have been designated as funding priorities. Progress remains slow, largely due to limited financial resources. Despite some external support, current funding levels fall far short of what is required. To date, only 17 percent of contaminated sites have been decontaminated. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development special environmental rehabilitation account for Central Asia has yet to become fully operational. In 2025, the government approved a national rehabilitation program covering the 2025 to 2030 period. The plan includes legislative updates, project design, implementation, and ongoing monitoring. Preliminary estimates suggest Tajikistan will need more than $110 million by 2030 to complete its remediation objectives. Given the scale of the required investment, international financing remains essential. Tajikistan is working to transform its uranium legacy into a manageable and transparent project, but without sustained international partnership, the challenge is unlikely to be resolved.

Nuclear Industry

Former Soviet Nuclear Test Site in Semipalatinsk to House Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Waste

Kazakhstan plans to establish disposal sites for radioactive waste from its nuclear power plants at the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in the eastern part of the country, Deputy Chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency Gumar Sergazin announced during a briefing in Astana. Sergazin stated that the operation of two 1,200 MW reactors, similar to those under construction at the country’s first nuclear power plant in the Almaty region, will produce approximately 50 cubic meters of radioactive waste annually. Burial in the Semipalatinsk Zone A new bill on radioactive waste management, presented to parliament this week, outlines plans to develop burial sites within the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone. “This is already a contaminated area: the total area of the site is 18,000 square kilometers, of which about 8,300 are zones of elevated radiation,” Sergazin said. The National Nuclear Center is scheduled to begin site preparation in 2026. The depth of burial will depend on groundwater levels, with international norms typically placing high-level waste at depths of up to 400 meters. “Sanitary requirements will determine technical standards, including the type of cement and sealing techniques to prevent radiation leakage. Liquid radioactive waste will not be buried,” he clarified. Sergazin emphasized that the Semipalatinsk site will serve as a centralized repository for waste from all future nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan. He also noted that radioactive waste is already present in the country, even in the absence of operational nuclear power stations. Scale and Sources of Radioactive Waste Kazakhstan has accumulated approximately 293 million cubic meters of radioactive waste to date, of which 290 million cubic meters are low-level waste, Sergazin said. “The majority, about 237 million cubic meters, is located at the Semipalatinsk test site,” he noted. The remaining waste, consisting of medium and high-level material, originates from industrial and scientific operations. Key contributors include the National Nuclear Center, the Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in East Kazakhstan region, and facilities in Western Kazakhstan such as Koshkar-Ata and the Chemical and Hydrometallurgical Plant. The agency estimates that safe disposal of liquid radioactive waste alone will require around $40 million. Funding and International Participation Given the scale and cost of the project, Kazakhstan intends to secure international grant funding. Sergazin confirmed that negotiations have begun with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. A draft agreement and roadmap have already been prepared as part of the Central Asia Environmental Safety Program. “Participating countries are expected to provide grant-based funding. Adoption of the new legislation will establish the legal foundation necessary to attract external resources, avoiding the need for increased domestic budget spending,” he said. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant is slated for construction by the Russian state corporation Rosatom by 2035, while the second and third plants are expected to be built with the involvement of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

Nuclear safety

Kyrgyzstan Intends to Join International Conventions on Nuclear Safety

The Kyrgyz Parliament is reviewing legislation on the country’s accession to two pivotal international agreements concerning nuclear and radiological safety: the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, and the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. Both conventions were adopted in Vienna in 1986 in response to the Chornobyl disaster and established frameworks for international cooperation during radiation emergencies. The legislative initiative was prompted by concerns raised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision regarding the risks posed by radioactive materials used in industry and medicine. Presenting the draft bills to parliament, Deputy Minister Asel Raimkulova underscored the necessity of safeguarding public health and the environment. “Ensuring the safety of people and protecting nature from radiation threats are of paramount importance,” Raimkulova stated. According to the ministry, joining these conventions would grant Kyrgyzstan access to timely information on radiation incidents occurring abroad, as well as technical and expert assistance from international agencies. It would also facilitate closer collaboration with other countries in radiation safety, monitoring, and emergency response. Hazardous Legacy: Radioactive Waste Sites A further rationale for accession lies in the legacy of toxic and radioactive waste across Kyrgyzstan. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reports 92 hazardous waste sites nationwide, including 23 uranium tailings ponds. The remaining sites contain materials such as heavy metals, cyanides, and other toxic substances. Building Capacity Through International Training In an effort to bolster domestic capabilities, a recent radiological safety training session was held in Bishkek with the involvement of experts from the U.S. Department of Energy. The training was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and customs agencies. Participants received both theoretical and practical instruction on radiological threat assessments, facility protection, and emergency response protocols.

Uranium

Kyrgyzstan Plans to Reclaim All Uranium Tailings Dumps

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov addressed the pressing issue of uranium waste during the People's Kurultai (national congress), emphasizing ongoing efforts to reclaim radioactive tailing dumps across the country. According to Japarov, many tailing dumps were constructed during the Soviet era along riverbanks and in headwaters used by local communities for domestic water supply. “We turned to Russia, as the legal successor of the USSR, for assistance. Rosatom allocated RUB 2.1 billion ($20 million). Work is now underway to relocate radioactive waste from hazardous areas to safer locations,” Japarov stated. Japarov highlighted the completion of uranium waste reclamation in Issyk-Kul Oblast, where nuclear waste had posed a threat to Lake Issyk-Kul. Without intervention, the region faced the risk of an ecological disaster. Efforts in Naryn region are also nearing completion, and attention will soon turn to tailing dumps in southern Kyrgyzstan. Local residents have noted that uranium mined in this area was used in the first Soviet atomic bomb. The tailing dump in Jalal-Abad region is particularly concerning due to its potential impact on neighboring Uzbekistan. Toxic waste from the site threatens the region’s ecology through contamination of a local river. Russian companies tasked with reclaiming five tailing dumps in Naryn and Jalal-Abad regions will be exempt from taxes, as previously reported by The Times of Central Asia. This collaboration is part of an agreement to address Kyrgyzstan’s most dangerous uranium waste sites. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the country is home to 92 burial sites containing toxic and radioactive materials.

Nuclear waste

Kyrgyzstan Asks IAEA for $45 Million for Nuclear Waste Remediation

Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Azamat Mambetov, has asked for support from Central Asian countries at the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Session in Vienna, Austria. The 68th session of the IAEA General Conference is taking place from September 16 to 20, 2024. An official from the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Emergency Situations made a speech that called for attention to be paid to the importance of ensuring environmental safety in the region. “In his speech, Azamat Mambetov emphasized the importance of the problem of radiation safety in Central Asia and called for the intensification of international efforts to reclaim uranium tailings in the region,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations stated. The IAEA adopted a resolution on “The Role of the International Community in Preventing Radiation Threats in Central Asia.” A strategic master plan was developed to reclaim uranium sites in the region and create a special account for environmental remediation in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan informed IAEA members about the process of completing the reclamation of two nuclear waste sites in the country's south. This has allowed about 80,000 people in that area to live safely. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations stressed that it is grateful to all countries and international organizations that have made a significant contribution to the environmental rehabilitation of the tailing dumps left over from Soviet-era uranium mining in Central Asia. However, approximately another $45 million is needed to implement the Strategic Master Plan fully. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations, there are currently 92 toxic and radioactive waste dumps in the country. Of these, 23 tailings contain uranium elements, while the rest contain radioactive rock residues, heavy metals, and cyanide.