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Environment and Security
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Koshkar-Ata was chosen in 1960 as a con-
venient location to stockpile radioactive
and toxic waste from the Caspian mining
and hydrometallurgical industrial complex,
which produced uranium concentrate and
rare-earth metals. It is located in a natural
depression about 5 km from Aktau and 8
km from the shore of the Caspian Sea. The
Koshkar-Ata depression is one of the largest
industrial tailings in the world, occupying an
area of approximately 77 sq km.
The southern part of the pond, an open sec-
tion covering 10 sq km
57
, contains the high-
est concentration of contaminants (80 to 150
micro roentgens per hour [uR/h] measured on
the surface at this location). Large amounts
of phosphoric gypsum formed a crust on
the surface preventing the escape of radon
gas. However the amount of water pumped
into the lake to prevent dispersal and reduce
radon emission is insufficient, and as it is
constantly swept by strong winds, there is
a serious risk of pollutants being dispersed.
Higher concentrations of heavy metals in
soils have been reported in the nearby set-
tlements of Akshukur, Bayandy, and Man-
gystau. The poor neighbourhoods of Aktau
city, located only a kilometre from the most
dangerous dry area of the tailing pond, are
particularly exposed to health risks.
Groundwater monitoring around the lake
suggests that the tailing does not currently
constitute a significant health hazard. There
seems to be no firm evidence that pollutants
have reached the Caspian Sea either. Howev-
er, given its location near the sea, the problem
has a transboundary dimension. The situation
is clearly precarious, as a rise in the level of
groundwater and winds could cause more
widespread dispersal of pollutants.
Local environmental authorities and the
population have expressed concern about
the state and future of Koshkar-Ata. Recla-
mation of the site is costly, and the meas-
ures taken so far, although an important
first step, are only a temporary solution. In
2007, 125 million tenge (about US$1 million)
were allocated from the local budget for the
first phase of reclamation. The total cost of
initial reclamation measures is estimated at
US$8–10 million
58
.
Koshkar-Ata tailing pond, Kazakhstan
dium-226, thorium-230) with a total activity
of 11 242 Curie, and over 50 million tonnes
of other toxic waste are stored there. The
pond is also used for dumping industrial
and municipal waste from Aktau city and
several local industrial enterprises.
In Turkmenistan, the environmental prob-
lems resulting from Soviet military activities
on the Caspian Sea coast are not as obvi-
ous: several air defence and border-secu-
rity facilities are positioned here, but there
is not sufficient information to conclude
whether their activities are affecting the lo-
cal environment.
Military sites are considered a problematic
legacy for the whole eastern Caspian region.
Past and current activities still represent a
risk factor for the region’s environment and
for the livelihoods of local people. To secure
the environmental safety and sustainable de-
velopment of the Caspian coastal zone, the
problems related to military and industrial ac-
tivities, includinguraniumextraction, process-
ing and storage, demand attention. Risk as-
sessment and land rehabilitation projects
could be developed and implemented, and
the information on risks for human health and
the environment in and around those sites
should be transparent for the public.