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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, June 10, 1998
Kumtor Operating Company (KOC), today confirmed that it has received copies of reports from a number of the international health experts and environmental scientists who have been assembled in Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of the government to collect, analyse and review the data surrounding the release of sodium cyanide into the Barskoon River following a truck accident on May 20, 1998.
The company is pleased to report that the documents show that a consensus has been reached that the air, water and soil samples in the Barskoon area are totally clear of cyanide and that Lake Issy-Kul is also free of any contamination related to this accident.
The documents include two reports from Dr. Rob Cleven and Dr. Mark van Bruggen representing the World Health Organization (WHO). The first report focuses on the potential health impacts of the accident and the two experts state that "It is unlikely that as many as 2000 (or more) patients have experienced a cyanide intoxication, due to the absence of possibilities of relevant exposure after the first few days. Knowing this, treatment schemes ... may have been applied too rigorously. After effects (genetic, reproductive, cancer) are not to be expected."
Their second report focuses on the soil testing in the Barskoon area and concludes that "there is now . . . no danger to life in the area." They add that "meat, milk, all kinds of fruit, potatoes and wheat can be consumed safely." With respect to Lake Issy-Kul they state that "there is no longer any danger to forms of life in the lake."
An agreement to proceed with further collaborative study was also received from six other international scientists including Dr. E. Bonitenko and Dr. T. Doronina of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Dr. John Harrison and Dr. Thomas Hyncs, specialists sent by the Canadian government; and Dr. Michael James and Dr. Harry Baikowitz, experts employed by Cameco Corporation to assist Kumtor Operating Company in the investigation of the accident. The document, signed by all six specialists, presents their collective opinion on a number of issues including the fact that the air, water and soil are clean and it commits the group to proceed with further study to provide more definitive answers.
The Russian toxicologist, E. Bonitenko, also filed an independent report in which he points out that he believes that many of the cases were misdiagnosed and that the true cause of much of the illness in the area was likely an "infectious process . . . caused by droplet viral infection of anthropogenic or zoogenic genesis (infection from animals) . . . " Dr. Bonitenko is also continuing his investigations and will report as soon as the data is available.
Coordination of the data and of the final reports from the scientific group will be handled by the new Health Centre as was explained by the vice prime minister, Boris Salaev on Monday, June 8, 1998 at a meeting in Edelweiss. The centre was described in his remarks as focussing on the work of national and international scientists who are engaged in determining the true facts and arriving at scientific conclusions concerning the accident. The meeting was attended by many senior ministers and officials of the government including Dustan Sarygulov, president of the State Concern Kyrgyzaltyn which owns the majority interest (two-thirds) in the project. Representatives from the Issy-Kul oblast included the governor and other dignitaries.
KOC is also very pleased to announce that the government of Kyrgyzstan has assured the company that it is fully committed to the Kumtor gold project and that the continued smooth operation of the facility is a priority. Gold production at the Kumtor site has been uninterrupted by the events since May 20 and supplies and employee shift changes are proceeding normally.
KOC continues with its many initiatives that demonstrate the long-term commitment of the company to the people of the Issy-Kul region where the mine is located. Among the most important of these actions is the payment of the financial humanitarian aid to the villages of Barskoon and Tamga based on a formula of 1,000 soms to every person over the age of 10 and 500 soms to those under 10 years of age. Total cost to KOC is estimated at between 8 to 10 million soms ($400,000 to $500,000 US). As directed by the government of Kyrgyzstan, KOC has delivered the full amount to the local administration in each village and they in turn have been charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the funds reach individual villagers.
KOC is also continuing other forms of humanitarian aid including ongoing supply of significant amounts of medications and foodstuffs to several hospitals in the Issy-Kul region and in Bishkek. The process will continue until the release of these patients which is expected over the next few days. No new patients will be added to the existing number due to a decision by the minister of health that no admissions related to the accident would be considered after June 7, 1998.
Employees of the joint venture for the Kumtor operation have begun work on the promised new water supply system to the two villages. Completion of the improved delivery system remains on target for late summer 1998. KOC employees are at work developing the six km new canal that will ensure a reliable supply of fresh water for irrigation and other purposes.
Finally, KOC confirms that Gerhard Glattes, president of Kumtor Operating Company since July 1, 1997, resigned on June 5, 1998. Mr. Glattes will return to his home in Germany. Also effective June 5, 1998, Leonard Homeniuk, most recently the executive vice-president of Cameco Gold, Inc. was appointed president of Kumtor Operating Company. "Mr. Homeniuk is well known to the people of Kyrgyzstan as he led the project from inception to production during his previous five-year assignment to this project," said Bernard Michel, chair, president and chief executive officer of Cameco Corporation. "I believe that his extensive experience and knowledge will be invaluable during the immediate future as the company faces many challenges to recover from the impacts of recent events."
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For further information, please contact:
Tinara Shaildaeva
Assistant Manager, Corporate Relations, KOC
(3312) 42-83-05, 42-22-82, 22-63-49
Additional Documents
Questions About Patients, Aftereffects and Their Treatment (WHO Report)
Is There Danger to Life in the Barskoon Area, Here and Now? (WHO Report)
Agenda of Meeting Between International Commission and Minister of Health (Kyrgyzstan) - June 9th 1998
Preliminary Conclusion (Russian Toxicologist's Report)