On 18 September 2026, the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) donated technical equipment to the Sughd branch of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Safety and Security Agency of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. The equipment was handed over during an official ceremony in Dushanbe with the aim of strengthening the Agency's institutional and technical capacity and contributing to its long-term work in radiation safety.
The donated equipment will enhance the technical capacity of the Agency's Training and Press Centre in Buston, Sughd Branch. The Centre already plays an important role in organizing radiation safety training and information campaigns for local populations in areas affected by the uranium legacy. The equipment will strengthen these ongoing activities by providing modern technical means for regular training and educational activities, as well as for raising awareness among local communities about the risks associated with uranium legacy sites and measures to mitigate them.
The equipment is particularly important for Sughd region, which is affected by the legacy of former uranium mining and processing activities. Uranium legacy sites may include former mining areas, waste dumps and tailings, which can present environmental and radiation-safety concerns and require continued monitoring, awareness and risk mitigation. Strengthening the Training and Press Centre's technical capacity will support regular radiation safety training and help local stakeholders and communities better understand the potential risks associated with uranium legacy sites and measures to reduce them.
The donation was provided within the framework of the EU-funded project on "Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia - Phase III", implemented by the OSCE and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. By supporting stakeholders and communities to strengthen knowledge, collaborate and take action on environmental challenges, the project reflects the shared EU-OSCE-UNDP commitment to environmental protection and meaningful engagement and aimed to reduce environmental and health risks associated with uranium legacy sites in Central Asia, which remain a source of potential contamination and hazard for communities.
