Tajikistan and European Partners Review Progress in Uranium Site Cleanup Projects

During these discussions, the parties focused on the implementation of projects for the rehabilitation of uranium heritage sites and the disposal of radioactive waste in the region.

Photo: Ministry of industry and new technologies of Tajikistan

Tajikistan and its European partners held discussions in London about the details of projects aimed at cleaning up uranium legacy sites and improving radioactive waste management, The Caspian Post reports citing Trend.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) organized the Annual Assembly of Contributors to the Environmental Remediation Account (ERA) for Central Asia, where the discussion took place, according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan.

Aziz Nazar, Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies, led the Tajik delegation to the event, where they met with important figures such as Adriaan van der Meer, Chair of the Assembly of the ERA, Esther Harlander, Head of the ERA for Central Asia at the EBRD, and Elektra Tsigaridas, representative of the European Commission.

During these discussions, the parties focused on the implementation of projects for the rehabilitation of uranium heritage sites and the disposal of radioactive waste in the region.

In addition to these discussions, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan held talks to explore ways to enhance coordination between their sectoral bodies within the framework of the ERA. The three countries exchanged views on how to best align their efforts to tackle the environmental challenges posed by uranium mining legacies.

Moreover, the delegation from Tajikistan also held separate meetings with representatives from donor states and organizations to discuss areas of cooperation and joint efforts in implementing the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Strategic Master Plan for Environmental Remediation of Uranium Legacy Sites in Central Asia.