It should be reminded that about 16 million tonnes of uranium industry waste have been accumulated at the uranium legacy site located on the territory of Istiklol (formerly Taboshar) in Tajikistan, formed in the period from 1945 to 1965 for the processing of uranium ore. In terms of radiation safety, the uranium legacy site is very close to the settlement. Important local radiation protection issues are related to the use of water from adit No. 6 and the open pit, the location of School No. 5 (170 pupils) at the entrance to the site, the frequent use of the site by the local population as a place for raising domestic animals, and the problem of the location of small farms, orchards and vegetable gardens. 
During the past uranium mining and processing activities in Tajikistan, more than 170 million tonnes of waste rock and tailings dumps containing hundreds of TBq of radionuclides have been accumulated. A significant part of uranium ore processed in the country was imported from neighboring countries (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan), as well as from Eastern European countries.
All mining and processing wastes from the Taboshar site are located downstream of the open pit. To the south, the waste dumps are associated with the Archi Sai retention pond. To the west, the site extends to the Sarym Sahli Valley, beyond which is the town of Istiqlol (formerly Taboshar). To the east, the site is neighboured by the village of Old Taboshar, just below the waste rock dumps.
The Taboshar facility has a total area of over 400 hectares and is quite complex. Sai includes a large open pit mine, abandoned miners` adits, seven waste dumps, the structure and bunkers of a low grade ore processing plant, a dump of crushed poor ore prepared after heap leaching (yellow hill) and several tailings accumulated at various stages of development of the hydrometallurgical uranium recovery process. 
The gamma dose rate over the waste dumps is over 0.62 µSv/h. A large waste dump with approximately 2.4 million tonnes of crushed low-grade uranium ore consists of low-grade ore residues that have been prepared for leaching with sulphuric acid in concrete tanks. On the undisturbed surface of the open pit, measurements generally show gamma dose rates ranging from 0.6 µSv/h to 1.5 µSv/h. Nevertheless, values ranging from 2.2 µSv/h to 3.5 µSv/h have been recorded at locations on the exposed top of the quarry.
The uranium legacy site located at Istiklol (formerly Taboshar) in Tajikistan, formed in the period from 1945 to 1965 by the processing of uranium ore, about 16 million tonnes of uranium industry waste have been accumulated. In terms of radiation safety, the uranium legacy site is very close to the settlement.
Based on the results of risk assessment and the threat posed to the environment and public health, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan commissioned the development of the "National Concept of the Republic of Tajikistan on Rehabilitation of Tailings Dumps of Wastes from Uranium Ore Processing for 2014-2024" (Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan No. 505 dated 01.08.2014). (Resolution of the PRT No. 505 dated 01.08.2014), where Digmai and Taboshar sites (present Istiklol) were assigned the highest priority for remediation works.
To address the problems associated with uranium tailings, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the leadership of neighbouring Central Asian countries have encouraged international organisations to assist in their remediation.
At present, international projects are functioning to carry out remediation work at the Taboshar tailings dump in Istiqlol. One of such projects is the Interstate Special Purpose Programme "Rehabilitation of Territories of EurAsEC Member States Affected by Uranium Mining Operations", which was approved by Decision of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community No. 602 of 05.04.2012.
The main objectives of the Programme are:
-reduction of risks of emergencies with radioecological consequences on the territories of the Programme participant states affected by uranium mining and processing operations;
-development of means and technologies of remediation works;
-ensuring safe living conditions and social remediation of the population in these regions.
In accordance with the Programme, the Joint Stock Company Federal Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Rosatom State Corporation of the Russian Federation has carried out comprehensive engineering surveys at the Taboshar industrial site, clarified geological and hydrological conditions of the site, and performed topo-geodetic survey. As part of environmental surveys, emanation and gamma surveys, soil and vegetation sampling were carried out at these sites. At the stage of research works together with specialists of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of the State Corporation "Rosatom" of the Russian Federation and the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Republic of Tajikistan, the impact of the Programme facilities on the health of the population was assessed and a programme of socio-hygienic monitoring was developed.
Since October 2022, remediation works have started at the Istiqlol uranium legacy sites, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The work is being carried out by Rosatom State Corporation of the Russian Federation and the contractor is "Faiz" Construction and Production Company LLC, which has directly started the remediation work.
The Agency for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Safety and Security of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, as a regulatory body in the field of nuclear and radiation safety, will periodically supervise the fulfilment of safety requirements during the remediation works.
 

Istiqlol's Taboshar Poor Ore Factory (POMF) dump prior to remediation.

POMF surface levelling process (December 2022)

Process of covering the POMF waste surface with neutral soil (January 2023).
 
After completion of remediation works on the tailings area, the POMF surface should look like this.

POMF dump after  remediation  (as per the project)
    
Completion of r remediation  works is planned for the end of 2023. Remediation of the rest of the Taboshar site of Istiqlol is planned in 2024-2025.