The first Soviet uranium mine was established in Taboshar (Istiklol) during the Second World War [1]. Taboshar (Istiklol) used to be a mining “closed-city”, strategic areas closed to the general public by the central government [3]. The Taboshar uranium mine site is in the Ferghana Valley close the Uzbek-Tajik border about 40 km due north of Khujand [2]. The site consists of a non-rehabilitated open mine pit, dismantled production buildings, and three tailing sites with 12 million tonnes (about 3000 m high) [1,2]. in total, there are 55 million tonnes accumulated in the Northern Taijistan [1,2,4]. The town of Taboshar with its 12,000 inhabitants is only few kilometres away from the 12 million tonnes of nuclear tailings [2]. Health officials confirmed they have recorded higher numbers of cancer cases and skin diseases in two towns Taboshar and Dehmoi. They suspect the rise in illness is linked to people's proximity to the waste sites [1]. uranium waste remains in uncovered and unsecured sites [3]. Known as Taboshar Hill, these are mounds of uranium waste. They sit uncovered, with no fence between the road and the waste [3]. The near by soil and water are contaminated. Locals use it for livestock grazing and feeding [3]. According to local initiatives for nuclear taillings issues in Taboshar the challenge of pollution is related to risks like earthquakes and mudflows, heavy rainfall or snow melt [3] . In November 2011, OSCE - Uranium Tailings: Local Problems, Regional Consequences, Global Solution, organized a community activity involving neighbourhoods, government and the enterprise Tabosharsky “Vostokredmet” responsible for the legacy site [3]. Together they manually cleaned the mudflow channel, which normally drains a mudflow through the area. However, there is still a risk of uranium waste spilling into the Utkensu River [3]. Other local initiatives included installation of about 60 warning signs and fencing off the open pit uranium ore where people used to swim [3]. More substantial work on remediation and development is needed in this case. The total cost of such a big amount of nuclear waste clean-up is estimated to few millions of dollars [1,3]. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that "due to the magnitude of the problem, it is hard to envisage that this issue will be solved in the near future." [4]. The UNECE (UN Economic Commission for Europe) and the EBRD have been involved. (See less) |
Millions of tonnes of radioactive waste from Soviet-times, Istiklol (Tabošar), Tajikistan
Million tonnes of radioactive waste from uranium mining remain in unsecured sites. Tajikistan is concerned over rehabilitation and safety of tailings from Soviet times. Soviet-time nuclear waste in the country is 55 million tonnes.
The first Soviet uranium mine was established in Taboshar (Istiklol) during the Second World War [1]. Taboshar (Istiklol) used to be a mining “closed-city”, strategic areas closed to the general public by the central government [3]. |
| Name of conflict: | Millions of tonnes of radioactive waste from Soviet-times, Istiklol (Tabošar), Tajikistan |
| Country: | Tajikistan |
| State or province: | Sughd Region |
| Location of conflict: | Istiklol (Tabošar) |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Nuclear |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Tailings from mines Uranium extraction |
| Specific commodities: | Uranium |
| Project details | Uranium mining in Asia started during World War II in Tabošar, the present-day Istiklol in the north of Tajikistan. According to a decree by Soviet leadership in 1942, four tonnes of uranium were supposed to be produced in just a few months, to supply the raw material for the first Soviet nuclear bomb. As in Kyrgyzstan, uranium mining and processing in Tajikistan was also treated as a state secret by the Soviet regime. When the last mine was closed in 1992, a total of 20,000 tonnes of uranium had been extracted [4]. Taboshar was the first of many officially secret Soviet closed cities related to uranium mining and production. The main issue now is the cleaning up of the million tons of uranium tailings. |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 18,000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 01/01/1992 |
| Relevant government actors: | UNDP, UNEP, OSCE, NATO, UNECE and REC have joined forces in the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) |
| International and Finance Institutions | European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | OSCE - Uranium Tailings: Local Problems, Regional Consequences, Global Solution |
| Intensity | LOW (some local organising) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities |
| Forms of mobilization: | Development of a network/collective action |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Waste overflow, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Mine tailing spills |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases Potential: Accidents |
| Other Health impacts | Skin diseases; rise in illness is linked to people's proximity to the waste sites |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Violations of human rights |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Strengthening of participation Technical solutions to improve resource supply/quality/distribution |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | Although the mine has been officially closed in 1992, the amount of waste ---12 million tonnes---accumulated and not properly stored is an enormous concern. Including potential accidents and land run-offs. |
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| Contributor: | KH and JMA ICTA-UAB |
| Last update | 10/02/2021 |