Development of an Action Plan to Address Primary Mercury Mining in Kyrgyzstan

S1_13

Mercury Waste Partnership Meeting for UNEP Global Mercury Partnership Tokyo, 12 March 2009

Craig Boljkovac, UNITAR Overview of presentation

z Nature of the project and project objectives

z Project activities and Implementation

z Consultations with government agencies in Bishkek/field visit to the Khaidarkan mining area

z Indicative timeline

z Future plans 2 Nature of the project

z Mercury in the international context

z Based on results of UNEP/GRID-Arendal within the Environment and Security Initiative to assess the environmental and health risks from Khaidarkan's Hg plant tailings (REHRA project) and Chemicals Management National Profile

z Project partners are UNEP, UNEP/GRID-Arendal and UNITAR with financial support of the Government of Switzerland and US EPA

z Guidance materials have been/are being developed

3 Project objectives (1)

z Assess the mercury mine and smelter, including environmental, technical and socioeconomic aspects

z Develop an action plan to address identified gaps and challenges including options to replace the present mercury mining operations in the area by environmentally less harmful initiatives

4 Project objectives (2)

z Raise awareness of the local as well as donor community about currently ongoing primary mercury mining in the country

z Through its catalytic nature and approach, stimulate investments for possible follow-up

5 Project activities (1)

z Technical assessment

z Socio-economic assessment

z Generation of an action plan with options

6 Preparatory Implementation Activities Activities National Advisory Committee

Technical Site Assessment* Final Action Draft Action Plan National Plan and With Options*** Forum*** International Socioeconomic Forum*** Assessment**

Methodology Development International Advisors

•National execution with support from UNEP ** National execution with support from UNITAR • *** National execution with support from UNEP and UNITAR Project Implementation

z National Lead Agency/National Coordinator appointed

z National Advisory Committee established

z Group of international advisers (USEPA, Swiss Government, international organizations and other interested stakeholders) 8 Consultations with government agencies in Bishkek (1)

z State Agency on Environmental Protection and Forestry

z State Agency on Geology and Mineral Resources

z Management of Khaidarkan Mining

z Ministry of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources

9 Consultations with government agencies in Bishkek (2)

z Fund of State Property

z Ministry of Foreign Affairs

z Government Office

z Institute of Chemistry (National Academy of Sciences)

10 Consultations with government agencies in Bishkek (3)

z State Inspection of Industrial Security and Mountain Control (Ministry of Emergencies)

z Ministry of Labour and Social Development

z State Sanitary- Epidemiological Surveillance (Ministry of Health)

z Ministry of Finance

11 Report on the field visit to Osh and the Khaidarkan mining area (1)

z Osh-Batken Regional Environmental Department

z Osh Department of State Inspection of Industrial Security and Mountain Control

z Batken District Environmental Department

z South Geological Expedition

12 Report on the field visit to Osh and the Khaidarkan mining area (2)

z Khaidarkan Smelter

z Khaidarkan Refining Factory

z Khaidarkan Mining

z Tailings

Indicative Timeline (1)

Field Missions UNITAR October 2008 (SEA) UNEP-GRID- Arendal (TA) Desk Assessment UNEP-GRID- Draft made available in Arendal July 2008

Technical Analysis UNEP-GRID- Draft made available in Report Arendal September 2008 January 2009 (final) Socio-Economic UNITAR Draft made available to Methodology SEA experts in September 2008

24 Indicative Timeline (2)

Socio-Economic Kyrgyzstan Early 2009 Assessment Action Plan Training UNITAR/ October 2008 Kyrgyzstan

Action Plan Draft Kyrgyzstan Mid 2009

Public Awareness UNITAR/ Mid 2009 Workshop and National Kyrgyzstan Consultations

25 Indicative Timeline (3)

Informal Donor UNEP/UNITAR/ April 2009 Consultations Kyrgyzstan meeting National Forum Kyrgyzstan/ May 2009 UNITAR

International Forum UNITAR/UNEP September 2009

26 Indicative Timeline (3)

z Формирование Национального Комитета

z Координация проекта

z Социально-экономическая оценка

27 Key issues for discussion

z Outcomes of last mission to Kyrgyzstan

z “Pending” issues (formation of the National Committee; status of Government Office decree, socioeconomic assessment (SEA); project coordination)

28 For more information