The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan, together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Federal Environmental Operator (part of Rosatom state corporation), are beginning the project to dispose of hazardous chemicals accumulated on the site of the Crystal plant.

The plant was built during the Soviet era as a strategic facility in the electronics industry, producing polycrystalline silicon and semiconductor materials.

Today, approximately 80 tons of toxic chemicals are stored in metal tanks from process equipment on the plant’s premises. The issue of their safe disposal has remained unresolved for over 15 years.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the deteriorated tanks annually increased the risk of hazardous substance leaks and posed an environmental threat to the region. Decommissioning this facility is considered a priority environmental task related to the industrial legacy of the Soviet era.

Practical disposal work will begin in November 2026. This deadline was chosen based on technical safety requirements—the disposal of hazardous substances is planned to take place during the cold season.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2027. After completion, the former plant site will be brought to an environmentally safe condition.