Committee of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan on Fuel-Energy Complex and Subsoil Use supported the bill banning uranium mining in the second reading.
According to the initiator — deputy Almambet Shykmamatov, the amendments imply a complete ban on the extraction and exploration of uranium and thorium deposits.
«In addition, the bill prohibits import of uranium raw materials into Kyrgyzstan. The raw materials of this mineral are brought from Kazakhstan to Kara-Balta and processed there, tailings remain in the Kyrgyz Republic. This is a big problem. We cannot decide what to do with the tailings that have remained in the country since the Soviet Union. By bringing raw materials here, we create new tailings there,» he said.
Recall, YurAsia company was going to develop Tash-Bulak deposit of Kyzyl-Ompol group of uranium- thorianite placers. They planned to process it at Kara-Balta Mining Plant. However, the Kyrgyzstanis strongly opposed the project. Protests against the development of the field took place in Bishkek and Balykchi.
The exploration license of the company was temporarily suspended. Deputies of the Parliament instructed the Government to ban the prospecting, exploration and development of uranium deposits in Kyrgyzstan. As a result, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decree prohibiting work on licensed areas provided for the geological study and development of radioactive elements — uranium.
