Radwaste Theft Problems at Kara Balta Ore Combine, Krygyzstan
Abstract:
This report in Vecherniy Bishkek details the situation at the uranium ore tailings dump located near the Kara Balta Ore Mining Combine in Kyrgyzstan. The report said that thieves are stealing radioactive debris from the tailings dump, in order to sell it for scrap. The dump contains not only tailings from the Kara Balta facility, but also radioactive industrial waste and obsolete equipment, much of which is apparently contaminated with radiation. The report said that the tailings dump is the largest in Kyrgyzstan, occupying 550 hectares. The material in the dump emits radiation at levels of 30 to 1400 microroentgen per hour. The report quotes Valeriy Trenin, the director of the Kara Balta facility, as saying that additional measures should be taken to secure the dump and prevent scrap collectors from removing radioactive materials from it. However, Trenin said that the plant cannot afford the cost of such additional security measures. Such measure would also be hard to enforce, since much of the local population cannot earn a living by means other than selling scrap.
Abstract Number: 20000590
Headline: Radioactive Material Stolen from Tailings Dump at Kara Balta
Date: 12 June 2000
Bibliography: FBIS Document CEP20000724000172
Author: Kyrgyz Vagrants Move In On Radioactive Tailings Dumps
Material: waste/scams/contaminated materials
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.
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This article is part of a collection examining reported incidents of nuclear or radioactive materials trafficking in or originating from the Newly Independent States.
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