But a fresh inspection at a former mine complex and processing plant in the Kyrgyz Republic has revealed that a crucial dam is dangerously weak – with almost one million tonnes of radioactive waste at risk of spilling into the regional water supply without warning.
The work is funded by Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia (ERA).
The ERA, established in 2015 on the initiative of the European Union (EU) and managed by the EBRD, addresses the legacy of Soviet-era uranium mining in Central Asia. The EU is the ERA’s biggest donor, while contributions have also been made to date by Belgium, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United States of America.
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