Energy News
TECH SPACE
Toxic towns in Kyrgyzstan battling radioactive danger
Toxic towns in Kyrgyzstan battling radioactive danger
By Adina Zhorobekova
Min-Kush, Kyrgyzstan (AFP) Nov 12, 2024

In a mask and a hazmat suit, Ermek Murataliyev drives a truck filled with Soviet-era radioactive waste along the winding mountain roads of Kyrgyzstan.

His is a hazardous mission: two such trucks crashed into ravines over the summer.

Drivers in this former Soviet Central Asian state are forbidden to stop until they reach their final destination -- a storage zone where the waste will be buried under thick layers of compacted clay and rock.

Murataliyev had to undergo a medical inspection and have regular health checks to get the job.

"I have been trained on how to keep myself safe," he said.

Three decades on from independence, Kyrgyzstan is still dealing with the consequences of the Cold War nuclear arms race, when Central Asia provided the Soviet Union with all of its uranium.

Kyrgyz authorities say there are now six million cubic metres of radioactive waste in 30 sites such as Min-Kush, which require complex and costly disposal measures.

"When the Soviet Union collapsed, Kyrgyzstan had neither the equipment nor the money to transfer the waste to safe sites," said Ilgiz Ernis, deputy mayor of the Min-Kush municipality.

"The process was badly delayed," he said.

The disposal work is now in its final stages and is being carried out by the Russian nuclear giant Rosatom as well as the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

- 'Radioactive lake' -

Local resident Aiman Kishkenalina said "this problem is not just for Min-Kush but for all of Kyrgyzstan".

Kishkenalina is one of around 5,600 residents of the run-down uranium mining town -- a ticking time bomb with grave human and environmental consequences.

"Some experts with dosimeters found that the (radiation) level was too high in some places," she said.

Local officials say it is in fact up to six times higher than the norm.

Radioactive waste has also been found in the river running through Min-Kush that flows into the Syr Darya, the second-largest river in the region, potentially threatening up to 80 million people.

"The (radioactive) content of the water that passes under the disposal area breaches admissible norms," said Bakytbek Asankulov, who is in charge of radioactive security at the Kyrgyz emergency situations ministry.

Asankulov also warned of the risk of a landslide where natural disasters exacerbated by climate change are becoming more frequent.

He said a landslide triggered by either foul weather or the earthquake-prone country's tremors could block up the river and "create a radioactive lake".

If the water from such a lake were to burst out, it "would reach the Fergana Valley" -- the most populated part of Central Asia where Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan meet.

- 'Hair falling out' -

Warnings from the authorities not to drink contaminated water from the river are ignored by some local inhabitants.

"We eat the livestock and we drink the milk of cows" that have drunk the water, said Perizat Berdaliyeva, a retired former accountant at the uranium mine.

Health risks from radiation were covered up in Soviet times but, unlike many other parts of the Communist bloc, atomic industry towns like Min-Kush had no food shortages.

"Everything was available," Berdaliyeva remembered.

Scientific studies have found an abnormal prevalence of illnesses such as cancer and depleted immune systems among people living close to nuclear waste sites.

"My two daughters' hair is falling out. They are often sick. My husband gets nose bleeds," said Nazgul Zarylbek, 25.

Her house was recently pulled down by the authorities because it was contaminated with radiation. She received 5,000 euros ($5,300) in compensation and was re-housed in a different part of Min-Kush.

Located in a picturesque valley at an altitude of 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), Min-Kush could appear relatively normal were it not for an electronic display outside the mayor's office showing the current radiation levels.

The town in central Kyrgyzstan wants to turn the page from its toxic past and local officials are even hoping that it could have tourism potential.

"The transfer of uranium waste to a safer area will allow Min-Kush to be taken off the red list for tourism," deputy mayor Ernis said.

Related Links
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TECH SPACE
Radiation belt exploration boosted by smallsat constellation mission CORBES
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Oct 27, 2024
In line with the COSPAR Scientific Roadmap on Small Satellites for Space Science, the CORBES mission, proposed by the Small Geostationary Radiation Belt (SGRB) division of TGCSS, is advancing Earth's radiation belt research through a constellation of multi-CubeSats. This constellation has been under development for two years and aims to conduct a fast-paced survey of Earth's radiation belts. The CORBES mission is designed to use a multi-satellite configuration to explore variations in the radiatio ... read more

TECH SPACE
Climate 'financing gap' is widening: ECB chief

Preparing Taiwan for a decarbonized economy

World leaders meet for climate talks, but big names missing

China passes energy law to 'promote carbon neutrality'

TECH SPACE
NASA opens Power Systems essay contest for K12 students

Tackling the energy revolution, one sector at a time

In search of high-performance materials for fusion reactors

Texas A&M to train machine learning tools to design materials for fusion power plants

TECH SPACE
Sweden blocks 13 offshore wind farms over defence concerns

Sweden's defence concerned by planned offshore wind power

On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument

Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island

TECH SPACE
'Solar Great Wall' aims to power Beijing and curb desertification by 2030

KAIST researchers improve hybrid perovskite solar cells with enhanced infrared capture

Investigating limitations in new materials for perovskite solar cells

High renewable energy penetration reduces blackout impact

TECH SPACE
Framatome and Nuclearelectrica partner to produce Lutetium-177 in Romania

Nuclear energy gains importance in Europe's green energy plans

Climate cash should also go to nuclear, says UN atomic chief

Framatome opens new Italian offices to bolster European nuclear energy growth

TECH SPACE
Sacred cow: coal-hungry India eyes bioenergy to cut carbon

Waste heat from London sewers eyed to warm UK parliament

Bio-based fibers may have greater environmental impact than traditional plastics

Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol

TECH SPACE
Environment groups lose appeal in Shell climate case in the Netherlands

Harnessing oil and gas windfall profits for climate funding

Court challenge begins against UK oil and gas field approvals

Leaders urge climate action - and defend fossil fuels - at COP29

TECH SPACE
Afghanistan says to attend UN climate talks, first since Taliban takeover

Record drought in Amazon impacts 420,000 children: UNICEF

COP29 action on health 'a matter of life and death': WHO

UK's Prince William awards climate prizes in S.Africa

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.