Kirghizia to Stop Uranium-Ore Production and Storage

Russia and Kirghizia agreed to shut down uranium-ore production facilities on Kirghiz territory. Nor will such ore be stored in that republic from now on.

Nikolai Shingarev from the Russian Nuclear Energy Ministry's press center says that various compounds storing the last Kirghiz uranium-ore batches will be shut down in line with bilateral accords. Moreover, local uranium quarries and mines will be reclaimed. Russian and Kirghiz experts estimate that the entire project will cost some 9 million dollars.

In Shingarev's words, Russia is ready to provide the required production forms and records, and to take in financing the project.

It has been decided to establish a Russian-Kirghiz-Kazakh joint venture that will be producing uranium ores at Kazakhstan's Zarechye deposit, Shingarev went on to say. It was also suggested that the Kara-Baltinsky ore-processing factory of Kirghizia use its technical potential for processing and dressing Zarechye uranium ores, Shingarev noted in conclusion.