Description:
Economic conditions have led to the almost complete closure of old Soviet era industrial complexes. Neither the Rustavi and Zestafoni chemical and metallurgy plants or the Chiatura and Tkibuli mines still function. However, the piles of unused chemicals and heavy metal stocks that still litter these sites pose a very real threat to the local people and environment. In addition, about 300 military sites fulfi lling various purposes – including rocket ranges, tank storage, chemical production and places where radioactive devices were used – were established in Georgia during the Soviet period. After the withdrawal of the Russian military, some of these areas were simply abandoned. Also of great concern are the 230 radioactive sources discovered since the mid-1990s. (Ministry of Environment, Georgia).