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Tajikistan's geographic location, just north of
war-torn Afghanistan, raises concerns about the potential for illegal exports
that could contribute to the proliferation of weapon of mass destruction
technologies. Tajikistan relies on the Russian Federation to
guard and patrol its border with Afghanistan.
During the Soviet era, uranium ore from deposits in
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan was milled into yellowcake at the Vostochnyy Rare Metal
Industrial Association (Vostokredmet), previously known as the
Leninabad Mining and Chemical Combine, in Chkalovsk. The uranium for the
first Soviet nuclear bomb tested at Semipalatinsk in August 1949 was produced at
Chkalovsk [1] As of 2000, Vostokredmet reportedly continues to process small amounts of uranium, though its main focus
is on the processing of gold, silver, and other precious metals. A
uranium enrichment plant may once have been located at Vostokredmet
plant.[2,3]
Other facilities in Tajikistan that pose a potential
risk for proliferation include a plant in the city of Taboshar that manufactured solid-propellant rocket motors for
Soviet strategic missiles.[4]
The Argus nuclear reactor, a research reactor designed
to run on 21% enriched uranium, was completed in 1991 in Dushanbe, but was never
loaded with fuel. Tajikistani officials have expressed interest in
obtaining fuel and operating the reactor.[5]
The Agency for Atomic Energy (AAE) was established by
the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences in January 2000 to conduct an inventory of
radioactive materials in Tajikistan. While Tajikistan has no operational nuclear
reactors, there are radiation sources
on Tajikistani territory that were used for industrial applications in the
Soviet era. Tajikistan does not have sufficient information about these sources,
as all documentation was taken to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The AAE will also formulate regulatory documents concerning export control and
other related issues.[6]
Tajikistan is a signatory to the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty.
Please see the links below for additional information.
The Export Control System in
Tajikistan
Central Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
International Organization and Treaty Membership
Tables
Map of Central Asia
Comments or questions? Contact Kenley Butler at
MIIS CNS: Kenley.Butler@miis.edu
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