At the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna from September 15–19, Tajikistan’s delegation highlighted the urgent need to continue rehabilitating uranium tailings sites left behind from past uranium production across the country.
The press center of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan (MoINT) notes that in his address, Aziz Nazar, Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan, reviewed progress on completed rehabilitation projects, outlined existing challenges, and stressed the importance of further action under the IAEA’s Strategic Master Plan for the remediation of radioactive waste storage facilities.
Nazar also emphasized Tajikistan’s close cooperation with the IAEA, citing joint initiatives in the peaceful use of nuclear technologies, healthcare, environmental protection, and glacier preservation.
On the sidelines of the conference, Nazar met with Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The two reportedly discussed prospects for collaboration in light industry development, the introduction of artificial intelligence, and mineral processing, expressing readiness to strengthen bilateral partnership.
The Tajik delegation also included Ilhom Mirsaidzozoda, Director of the Agency for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Safety under the National Academy of Sciences.
Beyond plenary sessions, the delegation held meetings with IAEA officials and representatives of other countries to explore new avenues for technical cooperation and joint projects on radioactive waste rehabilitation in Central Asia.
On September 18, Tajikistan’s delegation met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss new projects planned for 2026–2027 under the Technical Cooperation Program. Grossi also received an invitation to attend the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, scheduled for October 24–25 in Dushanbe.
Meanwhile, in July 2025, Russia’s Central Design and Technology Institute (part of Rosatom) signed a contract to prepare documentation for the rehabilitation of a uranium tailings site in the town of Adrasman and waste dumps from a former processing plant in Taboshar (currently Istiqlol), Sughd province. The work is being carried out under a bilateral agreement between Russia and Tajikistan, aimed at reducing radiation risks and preventing environmental contamination.
