Russia’s Central Design & Technological Institute (TsPTI – Tsentralni Proektno Tekhnologicheskii Institut), part of Rosatom’s Fuel Division TVEL, has signed a contract supporting clean-up of legacy uranium sites in Tajikistan.
The contract is for the development of design estimates for the rehabilitation of the territories of two uranium heritage sites in the Sughd region – tailings dump in the village of Adrasman, as well as workshop dump No 3 sites in Taboshar near the city of Istiklol.
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After the collapse of the Soviet Union, radioactive waste dumps remained a major environmental problem in some cities and regions of Tajikistan’s Sughd region, and a number of tailings still need to be reclaimed. One of these sites, which will be mothballed with Russian funding, is the Taboshar 3 training ground in Istiklol.
In Soviet times, uranium was processed in the city of Istiklol (Taboshar) on an area of 250 hectares. In 2023, with the support of Rosatom, the largest radioactive waste dump in Istiklol was completely reclaimed. Currently, it is necessary to reclaim four landfills in the cities of Adrasmon and Istiklol, as well as in the Bobojon-Gafurov and Buston areas. These tailings were accumulated from 1945 to 1970.
In 2022, TsPTI won the tender for the development of working documentation and performance of work at the Taboshar site as part of the implementation of the Interstate Target Programme Reclamation of the territories of states affected by uranium mining industries. Since 2021, TVEL has been the Base Organisation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) responsible for the elimination of nuclear legacy, management of used nuclear fuel, radioactive waste and decommissioning of nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities.
The project will be carried out within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Tajikistan on cooperation in the field of rehabilitation of territories affected by the activities of uranium mining and mining. Rosatom has already begun conducting comprehensive engineering and radiation surveys, as well as preparing design documentation. All design solutions will undergo state urban planning and environmental assessments in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan.
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By GlobalDataThe tailings dump in Adrasman is located in a mountainous area, it covers 3.45 hectares and is 22-25 metres high. The total volume of accumulated waste is 400,000 tonnes.
Implementation of the project will reduce the risks of radiation exposure, prevent further pollution of soil and water resources, and also create conditions for the socio-economic development of the region,” noted TsPTI Director General Yakov Nikonov. “Our team already has successful experience in implementing a similar project on the Taboshar site. This experience, accumulated by Russian and Tajik specialists, taking into account advanced world practices, can form the basis for future projects to bring other uranium heritage sites to a safe state.”
