On May 6, 2024, the WINCA’s Network webinar has been held, which more than forty participants attended from the region – representatives of regulatory bodies, various institutions and ministries. 

The speakers were Elena Panova, Chief Project Engineer of the Center for Environmental Design and Monitoring LLP, Institute of High Technologies, NAC KAZATOMPROM Almaty, Kazakhstan with presentation “In Situ Leaching as the Most Environmentally Sound Method of Mining Natural Uranium” and Kate Scheiderich, PhD Research Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) “Preparation, Measurement and Assessment of Nontraditional Stable and Radiogenic Isotopes.”

For Central Asia, the topic of an environmentally friendly method of mining natural uranium is very relevant, although uranium is no longer mined in Tajikistan, but, like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan has faced a number of environmental challenges in connection with uranium mining. Traditional methods such as open-pit mining and underground mining have led to contamination of soil, water and air with heavy metals and radioactive elements. This has had serious consequences for the environment, including threats to human, animal and plant health, as well as the pollution of water resources and the destruction of ecosystems.

In Situ Leaching of uranium, which Elena Panova spoke about, is a comparatively more environmentally friendly mining method. It minimizes environmental impact as the main process occurs underground and does not require extensive surface mining. This reduces the risk of environmental pollution and minimizes negative impacts on biodiversity and natural resources.

The topic of preparation, measurement and assessment of nontraditional stable and radiogenic isotopes, discussed by Kate Scheiderich, touches the key aspects of modern science and technology and has enormous implications for various fields of science. By discovering new isotopes and improving methods for measuring them, we expand our knowledge of nature and create new opportunities to apply this information in various fields. Kate shared the basic principles of preparation, measurement and assessment of nontraditional stable and radiogenic isotopes, as well as their applications in scientific research and technological elaborations.