New Life for Uranium Lands: IAEA Launches Plan for Central Asia

For over fifty years, Central Asia has been a key source of uranium for the Soviet Union, where uranium was not only mined but also processed, resulting in significant volumes of radioactive waste. The closure of most mines by 1995 did not lead to full reclamation, and these remnants pose a serious threat to the ecology and human health, including the risk of water contamination in vital agricultural areas.

Since 2012, the IAEA has been providing support to Central Asian countries through the Coordination Group for Uranium Legacy Sites (CGULS), offering recommendations, organizing expert missions, and assisting in the development of the necessary regulatory framework. In 2017, the first Strategic Master Plan was adopted, prioritizing seven key sites: in Kyrgyzstan — Mailuu-Suu, Min-Kush, Shekaftar; in Tajikistan — Degmay, Istiklol; in Uzbekistan — Charkesar and Yangiyabad. The initial cost assessment for these works was approximately 85 million euros.

A revised version of this plan was recently presented in Tashkent, emphasizing long-term management of already restored areas. The new approach includes monitoring, maintenance, and ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the safe use of reclaimed lands. "This plan is a continuation of our cooperation since 2017 and aims to improve regulatory, technical, and financial resources for managing restored sites in accordance with IAEA safety standards," noted Hildegard Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport, and Waste Safety.

As agency representatives emphasized, the main task of the updated Strategic Master Plan is to demonstrate to the international community the resilience and collaborative approach to the rehabilitation of uranium sites. This includes gathering information on current projects and necessary measures, helping to avoid duplication of efforts and highlighting the importance of funding. According to updated estimates, the total cost of the rehabilitation program is 113 million euros, including costs for works and project management.

Since the implementation of the first plan in 2017, significant results have been achieved: four out of seven priority sites have been fully rehabilitated — two each in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, allowing local residents to safely use these lands. In Kyrgyzstan, the rehabilitation of the fifth site, one of the most challenging areas, is ongoing, with completion expected by 2032. In Tajikistan, one site has been partially restored, while work on another has not yet begun.

The updated plan also includes lower-priority sites that, while presenting lesser risks, also require remediation. The Russian Federation has allocated funding for rehabilitation: 21.4 million euros for the restoration of Kadji-Sai, Tuya-Muyun, and Kyzyl-Djar under a bilateral agreement with Kyrgyzstan, as well as 15.6 million euros for the rehabilitation of Adrasman and enrichment plant No. 3 in Tajikistan.

Sardorbek Yakubekov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Industrial, Radiation, and Nuclear Safety of Uzbekistan, emphasized at the signing ceremony that the work of the IAEA Coordination Group is a vivid example of how the joint efforts of the international community can lead to tangible and long-term results in protecting people and the environment.

Source: miratoma.ru