The government of Kyrgyzstan has decided to block the shipment of uranium-contaminated graphite to the country by the British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) for processing. The step is in line with the demands of environmentalists, as well as the common people of the country. The government said its decision is rooted in safety concerns.

On its part, the BNFL insists that its objective in Kyrgyzstan is not to dump radioactive waste but to extract uranium and send it back to the UK. But in this process, the remaining material stays back in Kyrgyzstan. "BNFL not only gets to dispose off its waste in Kyrgyzstan, but also gets back useable uranium,' an environmentalist explains. Western companies resort to such moves due to strict domestic norms.