On June 29 to July 02, 2021, a delegation from Uzbekistan consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Committee for Ecology and Climate, the OSCE and the UNDP visited the village of Kaji-Sai of the Ton district and the village of Min-Kush of the Zhumgal district.

The study tour was organized by the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek and the Agency for Tailings Management of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic. The study tour was attended by representatives of Vizutek, Meridian Gold, RosFEO and the head of Kazhy-Sai ayil okmotu, Toraga of the Min-Kush aiyl Kenesh and Aarhus Center in Osh. As part of the study tour, the participants visited the reclaimed uranium tailing dump in the village of Kaji-Sai, Ton district. Representatives of the Agency for the Management of Tailings Dumps of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic spoke in detail about the reclamation work carried out within the framework of the Interstate Target Program “Reclamation of the territories of the EurAsEC countries affected by uranium mining”. The participants exchanged experience in carrying out reclamation works at the facility.

The head of the Kaji-Sai ayil okmotu noted the importance of the reclamation work carried out to ensure radiation safety and the need to continue reclamation work at the industrial facilities of the former uranium production.

Then the participants went to the village of Min-Kush of the Zhumgal region, during the trip they visited the industrial zone in the village of Min-Kush, where the company SK Alliance is carrying out reclamation work. Representatives of the Agency for the Management of Tailings Dumps of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic and the company provided detailed information on the ongoing reclamation work.

The director of the Aarhus Center spoke in detail about the information work in the framework of the project “Involvement of stakeholders in solving problems related to uranium waste”. They noted the importance of informing the local population at various stages of the reclamation work. The participants were informed about the important component of working with the public – conducting training trainings on radiation safety. They noted the important work of the Public Environmental Information Centers in Mailuu-Suu, the villages of Min-Kush and Shekaftar, created in 2015 with the financial support of the OSCE within the framework of the Uranium Legacy in Central Asia project. In the installed 18 information stands in Mailuu Suu, the villages of Min-Kush and Shekaftar, information materials and posters produced with the financial support of the OSCE, UNDP and contractors are being updated on a regular basis.

The participants of the study tour visited the Tuyuk-Suu tailing dump, where preparatory work is being carried out to transfer the tailing dump to the Alysky tailing dump. This work is carried out by the “Meridian Gold” company. The head of the company informed the participants about the work carried out and planned at the facility. The participants visited the Alysky tailing dump, where they got acquainted with the base and production facilities (sanitary checkpoint, vehicle washing station).

Further, the participants of the study tour visited the secondary school named after N. Krupskaya in the village. Min-Kush. The Director of the Aarhus Center informed the participants about the work carried out by the Green Patrol teams in 12 schools in Mailuu-Suu, Min-Kush and Shekaftar villages. During the meeting, the results of the competition on radiation, ecological safety and environmental protection among 3 schools in the village of Min-Kush were summed up. The winner of the competition was the team Green patrols of the school. N. Krupskaya, who was awarded a color printer. The team of the school named after A. Ibraimov for the 2nd place was awarded sports balls. The team of the Zhusup Sary uulu school for the 3rd place was awarded 3 boxes of paints for repair work. Prizes for the participants in this competition have been prepared by the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek.

The meeting participants wished the Green Patrols school teams success in their work and studies.

On July 1, 2021 in Bishkek, the delegation took part in the scientific-practical conference “National initiatives in the field of disaster risk reduction and adaptation in the context of climate change”, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Ministry of Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Aarhus Center in Osh.