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Solomon Pavliashvili Inspects Ongoing Construction of Arsenic Waste-Containing Sarcophagus in Tsana Village
Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, along with Deputy State Representative of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region, Mr. Berdia Chankseliani, visited the construction site of the arsenic waste-containing sarcophagus in the village of Tsana, Lentekhi Municipality.
The construction of a 50,500 cubic meter capacity sarcophagus in the village of Tsana is expected to be completed by 2026, marking a crucial step toward resolving a long-standing environmental hazard in the region.
“This is a vital project, being implemented in phases with full consideration of the area’s climatic conditions,” stated Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Last year, we completed riverbank reinforcement works and installed a drainage system. This year, the construction of the sarcophagus is underway.
At this stage, arsenic-contaminated waste from the Tsana-3 site is being transferred into the containment facility. Transfers from Tsana-1 and Tsana-2 are planned for next year,” stated Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
To enable the safe construction of the arsenic waste repository in Tsana, a series of comprehensive environmental studies were conducted and detailed reports prepared. The process included multiple public consultations involving experts and local residents, during which safety priorities and risk mitigation measures were thoroughly discussed and defined.
"In the past, an arsenic processing plant operated in this area, leaving behind hazardous arsenic-containing waste that posed a serious risk to both local residents and visiting tourists," said Mr. Berdia Chankseliani, Deputy State Representative of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti.
"The construction of the sarcophagus will ensure the safe isolation of this waste. The project’s implementation will lead to a significant improvement in the region’s environmental condition," he added.
Significant progress has already been made on critical protective infrastructure surrounding the arsenic waste sarcophagus site in Tsana village. On the eastern side, construction of a monolithic reinforced concrete retaining wall along the Korludashi River has been completed, along with a drainage channel and sedimentation basin.
Additionally, a 224-meter-long protective barrier has been built, while on the western side, a 350-meter-long channel was constructed to safeguard the sarcophagus area from flooding and waterlogging.
The environmental threat posed by arsenic-contaminated waste in Lentekhi Municipality has persisted since the 1990s, following the closure of former mining and chemical plants. Since then, hazardous waste has remained exposed to the elements, left under open skies, without oversight or containment.
As part of the ongoing efforts to resolve this decades-old issue, a high-level site visit and stakeholder meeting was recently held in the village of Tsana. The meeting was attended by Mrs. Nino Utiashvili, Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency; Mr. Gia Oniani, Mayor of Lentekhi Municipality; and Mr. Giorgi Gazdeliani, Chair of the Municipal Council.