On May 28, 2026 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) there was an official ceremony of
summing up the CIS Interstate Target Program (ITP) "Remediation of
territories of states exposed to uranium mining production". The event was
attended by the Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, Kanatbek
Chynbaev, and the Deputy Director General for International Activities of the
state corporation Rosatom, Nikolai Spassky.
During 9 years of work in the Kyrgyz Republic, five facilities in residential communities of Min-Kush in Naryn region and Kakhi-Sai in Issyk-Kul region have been brought into a radiation-safe state as part of the program. More than 27 hectares of land have been reclaimed, and the volume of transported tailings has exceeded 1.4 million cubic meters. The key achievement of the program in terms of technical process in the Kyrgyz Republic was the completion of the most complex works in the village of Min-Kush in Naryn region. Specialists of the state corporation successfully implemented a strategy for consolidation and transfer of radioactive waste from "Tuyuk-Suu" and "Taldy-Bulak" sites to the centralized tailings repository "Dalneye". The facility itself underwent complete technological modernization. It is equipped with multilayer insulating protective screens and modern water drainage systems, which guarantees complete safety and resistance to any natural disasters and landslides. The work was carried out using the best Russian practices and in accordance with international standards and IAEA regulations. The achievement of the program key parameters for radiation safety is confirmed by inspections from the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) of the Russian Federation. All completed works are aimed at ensuring the long-term security of the country citizens and environmental preservation for future generations.
"I warmly congratulate you on the successful completion of the first stage of rehabilitation work in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. These works were carried out under the intergovernmental target program of the CIS. This result is the result of serious, long-term efforts by our specialists, engineers, and workers. Thanks to this work, facilities in the settlements of Min-Kush in Naryn region and Kaji-Sai in Issyk-Kul region were brought into a radiation-safe state. "The health and well-being of people is our top priority," noted the head of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, in a congratulatory address to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.
"The successful completion of remediation in Min-Kush is a historic step for the environmental safety of all Central Asia. The close cooperation of our agencies and the state-of-the-art technology of the state corporation "Rosatom" have enabled us to eliminate a threat that has worried our citizens for decades. Territories that once raised serious concerns due to the threat of mudflows and landslides are now completely rehabilitated and are returning to safe economic circulation. We greatly appreciate the support of the Russian Federation, which has taken over 75 per cent of the funding for this program. Today’s signing of the Joint Action Plan for 2026-2028 confirms that our bilateral cooperation is entering a new, even more credible phase aimed at the well-being of future generations in Kyrgyzstan," emphasized Kanatbek Chynybaev.
During the meeting, the Parties signed a declaration on the completion of
work within the framework of the CIS ICP and approved a joint action plan for
implementing cooperation in the field of remediation of territories on a
bilateral basis for 2026-2028.
The landmark of the day was the opening of a memorial stele in Min-Kush village. The monument symbolizes respect for the history of the country mining industry and the contribution of the Kyrgyz people to the "atomic project" of the USSR, as well as serving as a testament to the strong strategic partnership between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. At the end of the event, departmental and state awards were given to specialists and environmentalists who contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the rehabilitation program.
One of the most socially significant areas of cooperation between Russia
and the Kyrgyz Republic is the remediation of territories affected by former
uranium mining operations. The Russian Federation has been providing assistance
to the Kyrgyz side for more than a decade, on a pro bono basis, in bringing
several uranium tailings storage facilities into radiation-safe condition. Work
is being carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Emergency
Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.
As part of the first phase, work has been completed on four sites in Min-Kush settlement of Naryn oblast and one site in the area of Kaji-Sai village of Issyk-Kul region. The current phase involves the remediation of three mountain dumps, their mines, and facilities in the southern regions of the republic, scheduled until 2030. The Government of the Russian Federation has allocated more than 2 billion rubles for the implementation of these activities. At the moment, work has already been completed on two sites - Toho-Moun of the Osh region and Kyzyl-Jar Jalal-Abad region.
The implementation of the project makes a significant contribution to strengthening the ecological safety of the Kyrgyz Republic and reducing health risks for the population in areas affected by former uranium mining operations.
