16 April 2024, in Dushanbe, was held the International Conference “Uranium Legacy Sites of the Soviet Union in Central Asia: Challenges and Ways Forward” that organized by the International Union of Veterans of Atomic Energy and Industry (IUVAEP), the Veterans Organization of Tajikistan and the Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, and the Radiological Safety and Security Agency of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan dedicated to the “Day of Science”.

Photo: Public and International Relations Department, CBRN Safety & Security Agency of NAST.

The conference attendees were included the representatives of the IUVAEP, the CBRN SSA NAST, the Public Council of State Corporation “Rosatom”, the Basic Organization of the CIS Member States in the field of radioactive waste and disused nuclear fuel management and decommissioning of nuclear radiation hazardous facilities, and the representatives of veterans' organizations from Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan. 

At the opening ceremony, the welcoming addresses of the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan Mr. Khushvakhtzoda K.Kh. and the Chairman of IUVAEP Mr. Ipatov P.L.  were announced.

Photo: Public and International Relations Department, CBRN Safety & Security Agency of NAST.

Mirsaidov Ulmas Mirsaidovich, Academician, Professor, Consultant, Leading scientific researcher of the CBRN SSA NAST, Chairman of the veteran organization of Tajikistan noted in his welcoming speech: "Your conference is an important event for our country, as actual problems of uranium industry waste are discussed. As you know, there is a huge amount of uranium waste left on the territory of Tajikistan, which requires rehabilitation activities to improve the environmental situation and prevent environmental disasters. I would like to emphasize that Tajikistan has successfully implemented a number of rehabilitation activities with the engagement of Rosatom, and we highly appreciate the role and efforts of Rosatom, EU countries, and the IAEA in solving the problems of Tajikistan's uranium legacy".

Photo: Public and International Relations Department, CBRN Safety & Security Agency of NAST.

Vitaly Tikhonovich Lebedenko, Deputy Chairman, and Executive Secretary of IUVAEP, emphasized: "Our veteran movement regularly holds international events dedicated to nuclear power, but today's conference is special. This is the first conference of the Union of Veterans to address such a pressing issue for the countries of Central Asia as the resolution of uranium legacy concerns. The CIS program for site remediation in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is being implemented in the region. Last year, Rosatom specialists completed work ahead of schedule as part of a project to remediate a number of facilities at the Taboshar industrial site in Tajikistan. Post-remediation activities at former uranium mining sites will be continued, as they are of particular importance, as they are directly related to the socio-economic development of communities near to the sites.

Photo: Public and International Relations Department, CBRN Safety & Security Agency of NAST.

"The CIS Base Organization for Radioactive Waste Management conducted an inventory of nuclear legacy sites. Passports were developed for more than 150 sites. The created Register of sites takes into account the results of environmental safety measures of the last 10 years. The decisive point in the development of a project for the remediation of accumulated harm is the clear formation of a strategy for the future use of the site, determined by the national authorities. Such a strategy should represent a balance between the choice of technology and achieving the demands of the population, potential investors and the facility operating organization," commented Mikhail Litvinov, Executive Secretary of the Advisory Body of the Basic Organization of the CIS Member States on the Management of Disused Nuclear Fuel, Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation Hazardous Facilities.

Photo: Public and International Relations Department, CBRN Safety & Security Agency of NAST.

During the conference, the participants discussed such important issues as assessment of the uranium legacy and its impact on public health and the environment, best international practices for remediation of uranium waste contaminated territories, development of strategies and action plans to address uranium legacy issues.

Photo: Public and International Relations Department, CBRN Safety & Security Agency of NAST.

Reference:

The International Union of Public Associations "International Union of Veterans of Atomic Energy and Industry" (IUVAEP) was established in 2010 on the basis of veteran public associations of Eastern European countries developing nuclear energy. Currently, the Union includes thirteen public organizations of nuclear veterans from eleven countries. ICVAEP is the only veterans' organization accredited by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In 2021, by decision of the CIS Economic Council, JSC "TVEL" (Rosatom's fuel division) was appointed as the Base Organization of the CIS member states for disused nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation Hazardous Facilities. The Base Organization assists the CIS member states within the framework of multilateral and bilateral cooperation in order to comprehensively solve problems in the field of Management of Disused Nuclear Fuel, Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation Hazardous Facilities and to implement specific projects at the Nuclear and Radiation Hazardous Facilities.

In 2024, Russia will chair the CIS bodies; in this capacity, it has intensified its work to further strengthen the CIS as an integration association and enhance its international standing. Rosatom and its divisions are expanding cooperation with enterprises and organizations of CIS countries.