Supporting people living around uranium tailings in Kyrgyzstan

Socio-economic development of communities around radioactive sites in Kyrgyzstan

Presentation of the project in Kemin townwith participation of community representatives

of Ak-Tyuz and Orlovka

April 29, 2015

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Location of radioactive sites (according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Kyrgyz Republic)

Radioactive waste disposal sites

Toxic waste disposal sites Potential contamination area

Ak-Tyuz Thorium4 tailings

Concentrating millActive period 1942-1995

Min-Kush Uranium 4 tailings

4 dumps, shops, ore stockpiles, mines

Active period 1955-1969

Kadji-SaiUranium 1 tailing

dumps, mines, plant Active period 1949-1967

Orlovka Thorium

Bordu tailing, technological maps

Active period 1953-1994

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Project priority: supporting sustainable development of local communities around uranium tailings

UN General Assembly Resolution “The role of the international community in the prevention of the radiation threat in Central Asia” (December 20, 2013);

Strategic Action Plan of the CGULS Coordination Group, 2013;

International Conference “Uranium tailings in Central Asia: Joint efforts to reduce risks”, Bishkek, October 24-25, 2012;

International High Level Forum “Uranium tailings in Central Asia: Local problems, regional consequences, global solution”, Geneva, June 2009;

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The project developed based on the following:

The National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Kyrgyz Republic in the period of 2013-2017;

Programmes and Action Plans of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic;

Interstate Special Programme ‘Remediation of EurAsEC Member State Territories Affected by Uranium Mining Industries” for 2013-2018;

Regional and local development plans, needs of target communities;

Experience from area-based development projects of UNDP

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Brief information about the project

Project budget – USD 1.5 million;Donor – Russian Federation;Duration – 2 years;Project objective – creating environment for

sustainable human development in Min-Kush, Ak-Tyuz, Kadji-Sai, and Orlovka through rehabilitation of socio-economic infrastructure and fostering income-generating activities;

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Target local communities

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Challenges of target local communities around uranium tailings (1)

radioactive pollution (non-rehabilitated dumps, problems with maintenance of tailings, closed and suspended mines);

difficult ecological conditions and lack of reliable information on background radiation;

lack of information on quality and usability of water for drinking and household needs; lack of access to drinking water;

threats to public health;

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Challenges of target local communities around uranium tailings (2)

common challenges of communities:- decline in living standards and quality of life;- high level of unemployment and migration of youth to

large cities;- old and unusable infrastructure (power supply network,

water supply and sanitation infrastructure, roads);- aging housing stock;

predominance of subsistence production and limited opportunities for business expansion;

lack of access to financial resources for enterprise development, difficulties in receiving loans

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Major components of the project

1. Increasing awareness of local population and creating a system of regular environmental monitoring;

2. Rehabilitating the social and economic infrastructure and developing income-generating activities;

3. Supporting local initiatives through small grants/investment fund;

4. Capacity building of local authorities and communities

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Component 1. Increasing awareness of local population and creating a system of regular

environmental monitoring

feasibility study and establishing the comprehensive system for risk assessment and monitoring;

capacity building of local authorities in risk assessment and monitoring of hazards;

improve public awareness on hazards;creating rapid response forces and local early warning

systems at the community levelPartners: Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic , Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, State Corporation «Rosatom», IAEA, local authorities and communities, mass media

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Component 2. Rehabilitating the social and economic infrastructure and developing

income-generating activitiesrehabilitation of public infrastructure (roads,

houses, social facilities, sewage and power supply system);

provision of access to clean water;development of small business and farming

targeting local needs;development of entrepreneurship oriented on

producing goods and services for larger marketsPartners: local authorities and communities, entrepreneurs and farmers, NGOs

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Component 3. Supporting local initiatives through small grants/investment fund

Small grants/investment fund will:a) supplement resources of local budgets allocated for

development projects (socio-economic infrastructure);b) support projects of entrepreneurs/farmers in:- increasing agricultural productivity and processing of

agricultural products;- procurement of advanced low-power equipment

including alternative sources of power;- creating start-up capital for small business

Partners: local authorities and communities, entrepreneurs and farmers, local people

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Component 4. Capacity building of local authorities and communities

Improving partnership of local authorities, local communities, entrepreneurs, and NGOs:

- joint identification of priorities, design and implementation of development plans;

- joint implementation of projects focusing on improving living standards and quality of life

Partners: local authorities and communities, entrepreneurs and farmers, local people, NGOs

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Synergy of cooperation in the interest of people and for sustainable development

secure conservation, remediation, and rehabilitation of tailings;

socio-economic development, health protection, improving living standards and raising awareness of local communities living next to tailings and hazardous sites;

Improvement of coordination

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