Other Names: Vostochnyy Rare Metal Industrial Association (Vostokredmet)
Location: Chkalovsk, near Khodjent, formerly Leninabad
Background: Vostokredmet, known as the Leninabad Mining and Chemical Combine until 1992, was established in 1945 to mine and process uranium from deposits in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.[1] The combine incorporated seven mines and several plants, including Uranium Plant V, also known as Combine No. 6.[1,2] During the Cold War years, the facility produced yellowcake for the Soviet nuclear power and defense industries, processing up to 1,000,000 metric tons (t) of uranium ore per year. The uranium for the first Soviet nuclear bomb, which was tested at Semipalatinsk in August 1949, was produced at Chkalovsk.[3] According to reports, Chkalovsk once had the capability to convert uranium concentrate into uranium hexafluoride and housed a secret uranium enrichment plant built in 1940.[4,5]
Sources:
[1] International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch1e.htm.
[2] Ostankino Television First Channel Network, 9 December 1993; in "Uranium Plant Changes To Gold Refining Production," FBIS Document JPRS-TND-93-001, 6 January 1994.
[3] O. Tikunov, "Uranovyye rudniki v Tadjikistane nakhodyatsya na grani zakrytiya," Russkoye Byuro Novostey, 1 February 1999; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com.
[4] JPRS-TND-92-002, 31 January 1992, pp. 50-51.
[5] JPRS-TND-92-003, 14 February 1992, pp. 32-33.
Activities: Vostokredmet continues to process small amounts of uranium, though its main operations are the processing of gold, silver, manganese dioxide, titanium dioxide, and vanadium pentoxide. According to former Vostokredmet Director-General Zafar Roziqov, Vostokredmet is engaged in a joint venture with a US firm to process ferromolybdenum. Vostokredmet is affiliated with Atomredmetzoloto, the Russian state enterprise that is responsible for uranium mining and processing, and Kazatomprom, the state-owned Nuclear Power and Industrial Complex of Kazakhstan.[1,2]
Sources:
[1]"Proizvodstvennoye obyedineniye 'Vostokredmet,'" Tajikistan Development Gateway website, http://www.tajik-gateway.org.
[2] Leninabadskaya pravda, 11 March 2006, p. 2; in "Tajik uranium enterprise struggles to survive," BBC Worldwide Monitoring; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://www.lexis-nexis.com.
July 2000: CHINESE CORPORATION EYES VOSTOKREDMET
In July 2000, Wang Benyan, the head of the Chinese uranium company Hai-Yu, told Tajikistani Minister of the Economy and Foreign Economic Relations Yakhe Azimov that his company was prepared to find an investor for Vostokredmet in exchange for 49% of Vostokredmet's stock and guarantees from the Tajikistani government that the credits will be repaid. Wang said that Fenda Group of America, Inc. was also prepared to finance the retooling of Vostokredmet with a 10-year, $100 million loan. Azimov declined the offer, since a previously-signed memorandum with the International Monetary Fund prohibits the Tajikistani government from issuing guarantees to international creditors. The parties agreed to explore other alternatives.
[Interfax Daily Business Report, Vol. IX, Issue #136 (2309), 21 July 2000; in "Chinese Corporation Eyes Tajik Uranium complex," FBIS Document CEP20000720000242.]{Entered 5/9/2991 KB}
1 February 1999: VOSTOKREDMET SEEKS COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA, KAZAKHSTAN
Vostokredmet Director General Zafar Roziqov indicated that the enterprise was exploring the possibility of partnering with the nuclear industries of Kazakhstan and Russia. Under such a venture Russia would provide investment, chemicals, and tools; Kazakhstan would contribute raw material; and Tajikistan would process the uranium ore. According to Roziqov, the three-year-old idea has support from the governments of Russia and Tajikistan, but not yet from that of Kazakhstan.
[O. Tikunov, "Uranovyye rudniki v Tadjikistane nakhodyatsya na grani zakrytiya," Russkoye Byuro Novostey, 1 February 1999; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com.]{Entered 5/9/2001 KB}
30 May 1996: COOPERATION ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
It was reported that delegates from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine approved a plan for cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy during their meeting in Minsk. The plan covers nuclear power development, spent fuel and radioactive waste management, the fuel cycle, safety assurance, and the use of radiation technologies in medicine and agriculture.
[Nucnet, "CIS Accord on Nuclear Energy Links," News No. 277-80, 30 May 1996, p. 2] {Entered 8/28/96 GB}
April 1996: FORMER DEFENSE FACILITY IS CONVERTED INTO GALOSHES FACTORY
As part of a defense conversion scheme, leaders in Tajikistan have decided to convert the defense giant "Sunrise of the East," which formerly produced and enriched uranium and other rare metals, into a galoshes factory.
["...And In Dushanbe In The Stream -- Galoshes Made From Atomic Pumps," Komsomolskaya pravda, 3 April 1996, p. 5.]
January 1996: TAJIK U3O8 MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET
It is reported that small quantities of Tajik uranium may still be available on the market, but this phenomenon is expected to decline. In 1995, less than 300,000 pounds of U3O8 originating from Tajikistan were imported into the United States. In 1993, the International Trade Court concluded that the US-Tajik Suspension Agreement was no longer necessary since Tajikistan imports posed no threat to the US uranium industry.
["Suspension Agreements: The Status Quota," The Nuclear Review, January 1996, p. 19.]
September 1995: TAJIKISTAN TERMINATES SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
Ukraine and Tajikistan terminated their Uranium Suspension Agreements with the US Department of Commerce which had been based on price-tied quotas.
["What Next? For the World Uranium Market," Nuclear Engineering International, September 1995, pp. 22-23.]
June 1995: TAJIK URANIUM MINES ARE NO LONGER IN OPERATION
According to Uzbek officials, there are no longer any uranium mines in operation in Tajikistan. Some officials noted that uranium resources had been exhausted, others explained that all qualified specialists had left the country.
[Emily Ewell, "Trip Report - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine," 21 June 1995, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, p. 12.]
May 1995: WESTERN RADIOACTIVE WASTE TO BE STORED IN TAJIKISTAN
It was reported that Western governments and businesses will pay Dushanbe $500 million over the next 30 years to store radioactive waste originating in Western countries. The first shipment arrived in St. Petersburg on 5/16/95 then was routed to Tajikistan. Russian environmentalists expressed concern over the shipment of radioactive materials across the Russian Federation.
[The Monitor, 19 May 1995; Vol.1, No.15.]
21 October 1992: ANTIDUMPING INVESTIGATIONS ARE SUSPENDED
The US Commerce Department decided to suspend its uranium antidumping investigations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan as long as a price-based quota, starting when the US market price is $13/lb for U308 is imposed. The investigation was filed by an ad hoc group of US uranium miners and the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union. Agreements were also signed with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan but no quotas were established since these republics have uranium mills but no mines. Should Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan open any mines at a later date, the agreement states that quotas may be set. This agreement will remain in force until 15 October 2000.
[Nuclear Fuel, 21 October 1994, pp. 1-6, "CIS Republics Sign U Suspension Agreement to End Antidumping Agreement."]
