The effort to address the legacy of Soviet era uranium mining in Central Asia is making substantial progress, according to the EBRD News Center.
Following the establishment of the multilateral Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia (ERA) framework agreements have now been signed with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where the fund will operate.
The operations will be guided by a strategic master plan which is in the final stages of preparations and based on already concluded studies covering high priority sites. A first examination of two sites in Tajikistan, Digmay and Istiqlol, has reportedly established estimated remediation costs of EUR 30 million.
The EBRD News Center says a joint mission by representatives of the European Commission (EC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Tajikistan on April 3-5, provided the opportunity to discuss the latest developments with the government.
Hidajet Biscevic, Head of Delegation, EU Ambassador to Tajikistan, said: “The environmental remediation in Tajikistan is part of the European Union’s overall environmental strategy for Central Asia. Addressing the legacy of uranium mining will assist Tajikistan in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by improving the living conditions of the people affected by these legacy sites.”
Balthasar Lindauer, EBRD Deputy Director, Nuclear Safety, commented: “We had good discussions with the Tajik authorities and we shared the view that all building blocks are now in place to start remediation works. We agreed to work closely together in establishing the necessary framework to deliver and improve the living conditions of Tajik citizens.” (News.tj/Ukrainian metal)