Round Table “35th Anniversary of the Closure of Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site: From Nuclear Testing to Peaceful Atomic Science”

Round table was held at the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan dedicated to the 35th Anniversary of the Closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site.

The round table was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, Mr. Gumar Sergazin, Deputy Mayor of the Abai Region Mr. Meirlan Rakhov, Head of the Office of the Mayor of Pavlodar Region Mr. Ruslan Mukanov, Deputy Mayor of Mayskiy District Mr. Adlet Syzdykbayev, as well as representatives of government bodies, scientific organizations, and the expert community, further greeting was addressed by the President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Akylbek Kurishbayev.

Speaking to the participants of the round table, Mr. Gumar Sergazin underlined: “The 35th Anniversary of the Closure of the Semipalatinsk Test Site is not only an occasion to assess the course pursued, but also an opportunity to define our future tasks. For Kazakhstan, the history of the nuclear test site has become history of the transition from a challenged nuclear legacy to a policy of peace, safety and constructive use of atomic energy”.

Main topics of the round table were the results of the work carried out by Kazakhstan after the closure of the test site, as well as current tasks in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy, radiation safety and nuclear non-proliferation.

The closure of Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site on 29 August 1991 was a historic decision that determined the further course of Kazakhstan in the nuclear sphere. Over the past decades, the country has moved from overcoming the consequences of nuclear tests and solving the problems of the nuclear legacy to forming its own scientific competences and active participation in strengthening the international non-proliferation regime.

Particular attention during the round table was paid to the results of the work of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the decades, its specialists have solved scientific, technical and practical tasks related to ensuring the safety of the territory of the former test site.

With the direct participation of specialists from the National Nuclear Center, a complex of works was carried out to eliminate and bring into a safe condition the testing infrastructure, strengthen the non-proliferation regime, and study objects of the nuclear legacy.

One of the largest areas of work was a comprehensive radioecological survey of the former test site covering an area of more than 18 thousand square km. The results of many years of research made it possible to obtain objective data on the current radioecological state of the territory identify areas where radiation risks persist, and lands that don’t pose a radiation hazard to the population. This work has become the scientific basis for making state decisions on the further management of the territory and the formation of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Safety Zone.

During the discussion, the international significance of the experience accumulated by Kazakhstan was noted. The project implemented at the former test site demonstrates how consistent state policy, scientific expertise, and international cooperation make it possible to solve issues related to the nuclear legacy.