Mongolian Nuclear Energy Authority to probe charges of Chinese citizens illegally exploiting uranium
The newspaper Uls Turiin Toim reports that citizens in Erdene soum of Tuv aimag have told authorities that Chinese citizens regularly transport uranium at night from a mountain there
The Chief of the Nuclear Material Department in the Nuclear Energy Authority, T.Bayasgalan, has confirmed that this was illegal activity as only license holders can exploit uranium
He answered more questions.
Does any company hold a license in the area where Chinese citizens are said to be secretly transporting uranium?
The Chinese company, Tooroi Bandi LLC, applied for a license in October 2009, but the NEA denied it permission following reports and recommendations from the State General Inspecting Authority, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Nuclear Monitoring Board. The Water Board also asked Tooroi Bandi to stop its work as the area was part of a watershed and fell in Janchivlan resort zone. Thus, any present activity by the company violates the law.
Why does the company continue to explore in the area?
Tooroi Bandi stopped its work in September 2009 but it may be that they transferred their licenses to economic entities from Hong Kong which look for uranium in a more scientific way.
Can a canceled license in a watershed be transferred? And why this secret activity at night?
Some exploration is done in nearby areas under license from the Mineral Resources Authority. But uranium exploration is banned and the NEA will certainly take action if anything illegal was allowed to be done.
Source : News.mn
