DUSHANBE -- The European Union (EU) and Tajikistan's Ministry of Industry and New Technologies have completed an initial study on the rehabilitation of two former uranium mines in the country, AsiaPlus.tj reported Thursday (April 5).
The study is part of a joint effort by the EU and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to remediate dangerous sites left behind by Soviet-era uranium mining in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The effort in Tajikistan finalised plans for rehabilitating old uranium mining and processing sites at Degmay and Istiqlol, two of seven Central Asian sites listed as priorities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is reviewing the plans, which includes measures on helping the local population and preventing the spread of radioactive contamination.
The rehabilitation effort in Tajikistan will serve as a pilot project for the other countries.
The EU has made €16.5 million (178.6 million TJS) available to remediate the seven sites, but another €70 million (757.6 million TJS) from donors is required, according to the EU.
