Kyrgyzstan Budget Committee Approves Concept of Uranium and Thorium Mining Law

27/05/2024

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The Committee on Budget, Economic, and Fiscal Policy of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic today, May 27, considered and approved the draft law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic (to the Code of the Kyrgyz Republic on Administrative Offenses, the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Subsoil”) and the recognition of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Prohibition of Activities Related to Geological Exploration of Subsoil for the Purpose of Uranium and Thorium Deposits Exploration and Development in the Kyrgyz Republic” as no longer in force in the first reading.

The Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Melis Turgunbaev presented the information about the draft law. The Minister noted that the draft law proposes to declare the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Prohibition of Activities Related to Geological Exploration of Subsoil for Uranium and Thorium Deposits Exploration and Development in the Kyrgyz Republic” dated December 14, 2019, No. 139, which prohibits activities related to geological exploration of subsoil for uranium and thorium deposits, as no longer in force. The adoption of the Law will be accompanied by monitoring by state bodies of modern technologies for uranium and thorium extraction, which will contribute to minimizing the negative impact of mineral extraction on the environment. If such technologies are identified, state bodies will introduce requirements for their implementation by subsoil users.

During the discussion, deputies Azamat Isirailov, Aisarakan Abdybaeva, and Nadira Narmatova raised questions about mechanisms and procedures for ensuring environmental safety and protecting public health. The Minister emphasised that adopting the draft law will be accompanied by introducing and enforcing environmental protection standards by subsoil users, including minimising emissions of harmful substances, ensuring workplace safety, and compliance with norms regarding the permissible impact on water and soil resources.

The lifting of the ban would enable the extraction of valuable minerals at 83 deposits highly demanded in the global market. Turgunbayev highlighted the Kyzyl-Ompol deposit, which holds significant reserves of titanomagnetite, with mining operations to be conducted by state-owned companies.

Source and Credit: kenesh.kg