The Regional Conference on uranium tailings organized on the initiative of the KR Government and with support of the UNDP continues its work in Bishkek.

The conference work was organized in the form of group work in sections around the four thematic areas:

• Section I: Institutional and regulatory frameworks of tailings management

• Section IV: Formulation and discussion of the joint Road Map on tailings and joint proposals from Central Asia to the International Forum in Geneva.

On the second day, conference participants discussed the socio-economic problems and involvement of private sector in addressing of the tailings problem in 3 groups. Following the discussions participants summarized the discussions and made a presentation on it.

This analytical material will be used tomorrow during the development and discussion of the Road Map on tailings and joint proposals to the Forum of Donors in Geneva.

But today the participants have already identified the main work areas and the points of joint efforts, which was discussed in all three groups.

The first measures to address socio-economic problems of uranium tailings:

• Providing drinking water and food for the population

• Awareness raising of local population and the donor community

The first measures for involvement of a private sector into addressing of tailings problems:

• Independent assessment of all tailings and creating project database

• Creating the international Fund o rehabilitation of tailings in Central Asia

Subochev P.N. Director General LAD-ECO Ltd.:

“The need for secondary recycling of uranium tailings is obvious, while it is difficult to talk about the profitability of such projects because they will demand additional funds for the study of tailings components. Such projects have high economic risk, as they are initially oriented for unknown results. A favorable investment climate in this area can be created by privileged tax. We are not talking about grants or gratis aid, we are talking about lax credit that will be directed for improvement of a situation created not by us”.

Djumaliev I., Adviser to KR President, Chairman of board of Directors “Line of Rights –Uranium”:

“It is necessary to develop a strategic triangular consortium: Government – International institutions – Private investor” and thoroughly estimate and optimize the spending structure for investor to have at least 20-30% profit”.

Sergeyev N.N., Director General of Kara-Balta Processing Plant:

“What is most important and can lead to success in this area is – direct interaction between donor and business, which provides financial transparency, shortens the way of money, increases efficiency of cooperation and gives the right to business to select contractors and sub-contractors by themselves for implementation of local tasks. I am interested I real promotion of interaction between investor and enterprise with the coordinating role of the government. And this conference is a good example of sensible approach of the CA countries Governments to the solution of this task.”

Jacubic A., international consultant:

“We need to raise public awareness of the problem and conduct consultations with the public”. The most important moment is the work with the population. In investing their money foreign investors are interested in getting the so called “social license” and would like to work in agreement with the local population”.

Iskakov M.M, Leading Manager of the Department of Labour Protectio and Environmrnt JSC “Kazatomprom”:

“I would like to note that recommendations developed by groups are mainly oriented at collaboration of countries: monitoring of tailings state, exchange of information, legitimacy of the results of radiological monitoring. Also it is possible to reanimate a number of existing interstate agreements between our countries and analyze their mechanisms of cooperation and if there is need to prepare new proposals on their use after the revision is carried out. I think that the problems of uranium tailings should be addressed systematically, on a regular basis looking ahead of many years based on the policy of our countries”.

Sadykov K.F., deputy head of the State Specialized Inspection and Analytical Control of the State Committee or Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

“All states of CA, which have uranium tailings in their territories, have similar problems. Our Governments are working towards addressing these problems and even some rehabilitation works are underway, but it is not enough. We need the projects on t regional level. For instance, it can be costly to organize the international standard laboratory for each country by itself, therefore we need a regional laboratory, which would conduct the studies meeting the standards of IAEA. Or, for example, the tailings in Mailu-Suu concern both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan because they are located at 30 km. distance from the densely populated Andizhan oblast. We would like to take part in the joint assessment of the state of tailings N3, 7, and 8: study their volume, component materials and their state.

Yunusov M., Deputy Director General on Science, “Vostokredmed:

The group work at the conference is very useful because we have a joint look at the problems and share our opinions. And the group discussion of the project ideas gives us an opportunity to approach the existing problems more realistically. I am interested in drawing the attention of the community to addressing of concrete problems on rehabilitation of tailings located in the territory of Tajikistan. These are conserved tailings like Taboshar, Adrasman, functioning Digmay tailing. Now we have 7 project ideas, 5 of which we brought from Tajikistan and 2 of them appeared here at the conference.”

Djunushaliev T.S., State Secretary of MES KR:

“Most importantly, the CA countries confirmed that they have different starting points. In Kazakhstan, for example, the regulatory and normative issues have a tendency for successful development, while in Kyrgyzstan they need to be improved. The countries now experience discrepancy in regulating methodologies and approaches at the institutional level. The parties have shown their interest to undertake this work and to improve the information exchange system.”

As the experts noted, the discussion today was held on a high professional level. And the conference participants are ready to formulate more innovative and ambitious ideas on addressing uranium tailings along with proposals aimed at tackling the priority issues for the donor community.

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