The mayor of the city, Kelsinbek Bektemirov, confirmed the information that work on the disposal of toxic substances will start in the near future.
He reported that the process will be carried out in two stages. "The Cabinet of Ministers previously instructed us to carry out the extraction, neutralization, and destruction of hazardous chemicals on the territory of the plant. The first stage is to be completed by December 31, 2026, and the second by December 31, 2027. For these works, the Ministry of Finance has allocated 91 million 958 thousand 918 soms from a special fund for emergency prevention," the mayor noted.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations will be responsible for transportation and neutralization, while the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources will assist with the implementation of the second stage and will consider funding issues in 2026. The control over the execution of the work is entrusted to the Presidential Administration.
The mayor also reported that during a technical audit of the JSC "Kristall-bankrupt," specialists from the Federal Environmental Operator (FUSE-FEO) discovered 80 tons of hazardous chemicals in the warehouse, including trichlorosilane and other toxic substances.
The "Kristall" plant, founded in 1985, began production in early 1987, specializing in the manufacture of polycrystalline silicon, which is in demand in integrated circuits and solar panels. In 2024, the plant was returned to state ownership, and previously investors from Russia and China were involved in its restoration.
Turmush mentioned that on May 29, 2024, an order was issued to conduct an inspection of the territory of JSC "Kristall-Bankrupt" to determine the volume of toxic chemicals.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations has prepared a feasibility study amounting to over 3 million soms. Negotiations are underway with Russia regarding cooperation in carrying out work on the territory of the plant, with plans to complete the disposal by 2026.
__________
In March 2023, Turmush reported that more than 80 tons of poisonous trichlorosilane are located in the warehouses of the non-operational plant near Tash-Kumyr, which is a highly toxic substance used for processing silicon.
Local residents then expressed concerns that this substance could threaten their health. Specialists warn that a leak of trichlorosilane can be fatal even with a single breath.
The issue of the toxic substance has already been raised at a meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh.
The opening of the "Kristall" plant once instilled hope among the residents of Tash-Kumyr for stable employment. The enterprise was planned for the production of monocrystalline wafers with chips; however, it did not operate at full capacity, went bankrupt, and was sold by the government.
Residents claim that 80 tons of trichlorosilane were brought in for the needs of the plant in 1985 and are still stored in the warehouse.
Atyrkan Sheralieva, a local resident, notes that the issue of the toxic substance was raised at a people's kurultai. Previously, while being a deputy of the Tash-Kumyr City Kenesh, she appealed to the relevant authorities. "I spoke with a chemist who participated in the organization of production facilities and learned that they cannot disclose information. However, I found out that the substance poses a serious danger," she says.
According to her, "liquid chlorine" is stored in iron barrels, which corrode over time. Previously, there was a water supply system on the plant's territory that met standards, but now it is in a dilapidated state. "We hope that a disaster will not occur. Earlier, 40 specialists were prepared for disposal, but nothing has changed. It is difficult to transport toxic substances. Once, when one of the barrels was opened, all the goats grazing nearby died. The situation calmed down, but no measures were taken," she added.
As Kelsinbek Bektemirov noted, local authorities have appealed to higher instances. About 50 million soms are needed for disposal. "The plant has passed into private hands and is now managed by the LLC 'COMPUTER POWER CENTER.' However, local authorities have repeatedly received information from them about a lack of funds," the mayor added.
In February 2021, a commission studied the issue of disposing of the toxic substance and awaited a visit from Japanese investors to explore new recycling technologies. Otherwise, the company planned to carry out disposal at its own expense.
According to the KR law "On Industrial Safety of Hazardous Production Facilities," organizations are required to comply with safety requirements for the storage of hazardous substances.
In March 2024, the GKNB reported on conducting investigative activities regarding the illegal appropriation of assets of JSC "Kristall", related to the late criminal authority Kamchy Asanbek.
It was established that to create a mining farm on the territory of JSC "Kristall," the LLC "Computer Power Center" was created, which was engaged in equipping the mining farm without the necessary permits. The main goal of the project was to finance criminal structures. As a result, by the decision of the Tash-Kumyr District Court on January 10, 2024, JSC "Kristall" was returned to state ownership, as it has strategic significance for the country's economy and attracts the interest of foreign investors.
