The document emphasizes that a significant portion of the uranium legacy from the Soviet era is concentrated in Kyrgyzstan, which is located in seismically active areas, often near rivers and populated settlements. The IAEA highlights that without a systematic approach to reclamation, emissions of radioactive and toxic substances are not a matter of probability, but merely a matter of time.
According to IAEA information, uranium mining in Kyrgyzstan began in the mid-1940s, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, dozens of tailings storage facilities and mines were left without proper oversight. In recent years, the republic has demonstrated significant progress in this area.
Reclamation work has been completed in Shekaftar and Min-Kush, including the cleaning of tailings storage facilities, while the most challenging site, Mailuu-Suu, has been in active work since August 2023. According to the IAEA plan, reclamation in this area will continue until 2032.
The total cost of the program for cleaning uranium sites in the region is estimated at 113 million euros.
By 2025, funding of 71.8 million euros has been secured, of which 61.5 million was provided by the European Union. However, there is a shortfall of about 43 million euros, and without closing this gap, the implementation of all priority projects will be at risk. The document emphasizes that Kyrgyzstan does not have sufficient domestic resources to fully address the problem, and international support remains critically important.
The new plan also focuses on sites that were previously not considered a priority. This includes Kadji-Sai, Tuya-Moyun, and Kyzyl-Dzhara, whose reclamation is planned under a bilateral agreement with Russia, which provides for funding of 21.4 million euros. These projects will begin after the completion of work at the main priority sites.
The IAEA indicates that reclamation is only part of the task.
Upon completion of construction and engineering works, Kyrgyzstan will need to ensure radiation and environmental monitoring, as well as control and safety of the cleaned areas for decades.
The new strategic plan reaffirms Kyrgyzstan's status as one of the leading countries in the region facing a large-scale and complex uranium legacy, the resolution of which requires international solidarity and long-term state responsibility.
