Press Release on Visit of Representatives from Nongovernmental Ecological Organizations to Ulba Metallurgical Plant

In May 03-05, 2007 the representatives of nongovernmental ecological organizations (NEO) had visited the JSC “Ulba Metallurgical Plant”
(affiliate  of JSC NAC “Kazatomprom”) with participation of the “Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan” Association. The Delegation included representatives of: “EcoForum” (Almaty), Public Organization “EcoMuseum” (Karaganda), Public Organization “East-Kazakhstan Department of Kazakh Society for Nature Protection (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Culture-ecological union “Boomerang”, Public Organization “Help to victims of nuclear tests in Semipalatinsk region” (Semipalatinsk), Agency of Ecological Information “Green Woman” (Almaty), newspaper “Ecological Courier”.

The purpose of the tour was to demonstrate to ecological society the high standards of Ulba Metallurgical Plant (JSC “UMP”) in the field of protection of labor and environment, provision of nuclear and radiation safety in production. Delegation visited the beryllium, tantalum and uranium plants, tails plant and the social object – recreation center “Sibiny”.

During the visits to existing facilities and demonstration of treatment plants the representatives of ecological nongovernmental organizations received and approved the following documents:

• Ecological policy of JSC “UMP” developed within the frames of the Environment Management System;
• Information on annual ecological programs developed within the frames of the Environment Management System;
• Comprehensive information on financing of JSC “UMP’s” ecological programs. (Annual expenditure of JSC “UMP” for protection of environment is over 400  million tenge);
• The results of ecological programs in 2004-2006;
• The results of control and annual analysis of atmospheric air and surface water conditions, which shows that the activity of JSC “UMP” does not cause a sufficient negative impact on environmental components.

During the meeting the NEO had noted the high level of nuclear and radiation safety provision for employees and for the population of Ust-Kamenogorsk overall.  Chairman of “EcoForum” (Union of nongovernmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan) Kaisha Atakhanova remarked:  “It’s very important that I saw a thorough ecological control at the plant. There are special laboratories, experts.  The technology allows to produce high quality products, which go for export. This allows to state that the level of products corresponds to the international requirements.  There are innovations, modern approach – which is also of great value.  It’s important that the plant has undergone the international certification ISО 14001”.

According to the results of the visit the representatives of NEO expressed the following recommendations addressed to NAC Kazatomprom and JSC “UMP”:

• Expand ecological information on website of JSC “UMP” in the part of materials related to the impact on environment and the measures taken on behalf of the enterprise to minimize pollution;
• Organize preparation of information bulletins on ecological directions and make them available to publicity;
• Jointly think over with NEO the conduct of public hearings regarding not only the obligatory projects of JSC NAC Kazatomprom provided by the ecological legislation but also the voluntary activity in order to ecologically enlighten the population.

These notes will undoubtedly be considered, taken into account and implemented by JSC NAC Kazatomprom in the nearest time.

For second consecutive year JSC NAC Kazatomprom is carrying out systematic work striving to fix an open dialogue with the representatives of Kazakhstan’s ecological society.   In 2006 the Company organized visits for NEO to the uranium production mine Mynkuduk, Eastern Site (Kyzymshek, South-Kazakhstan region) and the nuclear reactor BN-З50 (Aktau, Mangistau region). Due to this ecological tour representatives of more than 10 NEO’s became familiar with the decommissioning process of nuclear reactor and the high safety level of the modern mining In-Situ Leaching method at Kazatomprom’s enterprises.  This favors the change in existing conception of uranium production as a representation of danger for environment and population’s health.

• The National Atomic Company “Kazatomprom” is the national operator of Kazakhstan on export of uranium and other dual-purpose materials. 100% of shares belong to the Government represented by the Ministry of energy and mineral resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. “Kazatomprom” represents a holding managing six main directions of activity: geological exploration, uranium mining, and metallurgy, power engineering, scientific support of production and personnel training and also social welfare. Over 22 000 people are employed by the Company for today. The Company is among the three leading uranium producers of the world.
• JSC “Ulba metallurgical plant” (JSC “UMP”) – is one of the recognized world leaders in production of fuel pellets of uranium dioxide for nuclear power plants, beryllium-, tantalum- and niobium-containing products. 90% of shares belongs to the National Atomic Company “Kazatomprom”. The present structure of JSC “UMP” includes high-tec and science-intensive metallurgy plants:  uranium, beryllium, tantalum, developed infrastructure of auxiliary plants and also a powerful scientific-research center: Central Scientific-Research Laboratory, Central Plant Laboratory, Central Laboratory of Measuring Equipment, Center of Information Technologies, Laboratory of labor and environment protection and the Design-Construction Institute. With the participation of JSC “UMP” there were established such affiliated enterprises as machinery plant, divisions on production and processing of minerals, transport and social sphere, joint venture on the territory of Russia and China on production and sales of beryllium products. Since 2002 JSC “UMP” has introduced the Environment Management System (EMS). Since 2003 the EMS has been certified according to the international standard ISО 14001. In 2006 the EMS was recertified for compliance with the requirements of the International standard ISО 14001, version of 2004.