15 February 2003 16:32
Kyrgyzstan to host OSCE-backed conference on environmental security
Bishkek, 15 February: An international conference on environmental security and the prevention of radioactive
contamination will be held in Bishkek [the Kyrgyz capital] in April 2003. The OSCE Centre in Bishkek will sponsor the
conference, the government press service told Interfax today. The representatives of the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will attend the conference. Subjects for discussion will include the
rehabilitation of uranium waste dumps. There are 35 such dumps in Kyrgyzstan.
The conference will adopt a comprehensive plan to ensure that the dumps fully comply with ecological safety
regulations.
A total of 23 uranium waste dumps are located southwards of the town of Mayli-Say [southwestern Dzhalal-Abad Region]
where a large uranium enterprise functioned a few decades ago.
The World Bank has estimated that the rehabilitation and re-cultivation of the dumps will cost 24m dollars.
[Interfax news agency] |
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