Uzbekistan has received a €9mn grant from the Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia (ERA) to address environmental concerns related to former uranium mining sites.
As part of the Strategic Environmental Review (SER) framework, this grant will support the closure of identified workings, demolish abandoned uranium ore processing facilities, and reclaim waste rock areas at the Yangiabad and Charkesar mines.
The ERA has allocated funds for the remediation of five of the seven high-priority uranium legacy sites in Central Asia, with two located in Uzbekistan and three in Kyrgyzstan.
The remediation activities will not only make the area environmentally safe but also help prevent toxic materials from entering the river system of the Fergana Valley, which is home to more than 15mn people.
This will support the livelihoods of the population and promote tourism development.
In 2015, the EU established the ERA to handle the aftermath of Soviet-era uranium mining in Central Asia. Managed by the EBRD, this initiative receives support from various countries, including Belgium, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States of America. The EU is the primary donor for ERA.
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