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Abstract:
Interfax-Kazakhstan reported on 5 November 2004 that more than 5 metric tons of radioactive scrap metal is stored at the Aktau chemical and hydrometallurgical combine (Kazakhstan, Mangistau Oblast). The chief state environmental protection inspector for Mangistau Oblast, Marat Orynbasarov, was quoted as saying that radioactive scrap metal has been stockpiled at the plant since 1962, when the combine was put into operation. Orynbasarov also pointed out that the radioactive scrap metal is not guarded, which makes it vulnerable to theft and resale to scrap metal dealers. Anyone removing the material would expose themselves to dangerous levels of radiation. The disposition of this radioactive scrap metal remains unresolved because of a business dispute. The current owner of the combine, the Aktal limited liability partnership, is not willing to clean up the radioactive dump unless the previous owner, the Kaskor joint-stock company, conducts an inventory of the waste. However, Kaskor says inadequate funding makes it impossible to conduct an inventory. Moreover, other facilities of the region's oil and gas industry also house radioactive waste. According to Orynbasarov, funding from the Kazakhstani budget will be appropriated in 2005 to construct a burial site for radioactive waste in the region.