Press Release on Installation of Public Dosimeters by Kazatomprom in South Kazakhstan

In March of current year, in Sozakski region of South-Kazakhstani oblast, National Atomic Company Kazatomprom installed public dosimeters for detection of radiation background of the area. Installation of public dosimeters is another step of Kazatomprom to liquidate a problem of population's radiophobia and to reflect actual conditions of radiation situation at the area.

In November 2006, the President of Kazatomprom, Mr. Dzhakishev M., has received a letter from Akimat of Sozakski region, South-Kazakhstani oblast, with request to install information displays for detection and indication of radiation background in some settlements of the region most closely located to uranium production facilities. Mr. Dzhakishev directed Mining Company LLP (subsidiary of Kazatomprom) to procure, install and assist in public dosimeters operation. Therefore, modern public dosimeters manufactured in Russia (Moscow) were procured. Required funds planned for labor safety and environmental measures were allocated by Mining Company.

On a real-time basis, public dosimeters detect and indicate radiation background of the area. At present, according to the public dosimeters, radiation background is 15-20 microroentgen per hour, which corresponds to natural radiation background of Sozakski region. Besides, displays indicate date, current time, humidity in percentage terms and atmospheric pressure in mm of mercury. It is confirmed by the results of regular radiation control by the Company facilities.

During the period of activity of Kazatomprom, according to the results of production radiation control and observations of government supervision bodies in the sphere of environmental protection and radiation safety in the territory of sanitary-protection zones and residential construction of surrounding population centers, radioactive contamination of soil caused by uranium mining activity of the facilities of Kazatomprom have not been registered. Equivalent dose rate in the territory of populated areas does not exceed natural radiation background of the territory and is in the interval 0.12-0.20 mcSv/h (12-20 mcR/h). At all Kazatomprom facilities, production objectives radiation certification is conducted timely.

To maintain ecological safety, radiological control, which is component of the total ecological control, is carried out. This work is being done by dosimetric services equipped with dosimetric and radiometric devices to make qualified measurements of parameters in accordance with prescribed nomenclature of radiation control coordinated with bodies of governmental environmental and sanitary-epidemiologic inspection.

Upgraded radioecological laboratories certified by GosStandart of the Republic of Kazakhstan are available at the facilities of Kazatomprom.