Adyl Garibov: “One thing I dream of is to have a nuclear reactor for my research”

Dr Adyl Garibov, the executive director of the Azerbaijani Institute for Radiation Problems, and official representative of his country to the International Atomic Energy Agency tells VK about radiation problems in Azerbaijan and ways of solving them.

- Who do you manage the problem of radioactive zones in Azerbaijan?

- The issue of radiation security in Azerbaijan is being resolved according to international standards. An Agency for atomic and radiation hazards was created in the framework of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and scientific support is provided by our Institute. The radiation level in our country is low by nature and corresponds to international standards. Moreover, we have no zones with increased radiation levels apart from the production zones, oil and gas for the most part.

Azerbaijan has been processing oil for more than 200 years. As the drilling goes deeper, radioactive layers of sand come up and create local sites of pollution. These seats, carefully studied and contained, are concentrated on the Absheron peninsula for the most part, and that is the most populated area of Azerbaijan. 2010 has been declared the Year of Ecology in Azerbaijan and intensive work is being carried out to neutralize the radioactive sites. Other radiation hazard spots on the peninsula are two iodine plants, which have been operating since Soviet times. Their waste products, containing radioactive elements, could spread over considerable territories in the form of dust.

We have launched several environmental cleansing programs on the territory with the co-operation of the IAEA. The IAEA also plans to create a map of the radiation background of Azerbaijan. We have such maps for various regions, but not for the whole country. Oil production and other industrial activities have been developing rapidly over the past 20 years, so the background could have changed as well, so the task of creating a map of the radiation levels of the whole country is urgent. So far, I can say that there are now serious pollution zones. 

 - And how could you estimate the ecological condition of the trans-border rivers – the Kura and the Aras?

- NATO has prepared a special project for three countries – Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. That is the only program in which Armenia participates along with Azerbaijan. Three monitoring centers for the trans-border rivers have been created. We exchange information with Georgia directly, and get Armenian information via NATO. 

The issue of trans-border river pollution was discussed in the framework of NATO in 2008. We discussed the condition of all the drinking water in the world, the South Caucasus included. Our Minister of Ecology said than that 80% of Azerbaijani rivers carrying drinking water are formed on the territories of other states. Everyone was surprised back then; two currently hostile countries, yet one provides drinking water for the other. And that might be the reason why this project is still sponsored and keeps people interested in it.

According to the monitoring results, Armenia pollutes the waters of the Kura and the Aras due to its industry and agriculture. Fields near the rivers have caused fertilizers and pesticides to mix with the rivers’ waters. Our government has to deal with the problem. Cleansing systems are being deployed. The levels of pollution are carefully monitored in 16 locations.

No radiation pollution has been registered so far. But even if Armenia intended to deliberate poison our waters by uranium splitting, that would not be possible: IAEA control is far too strong. I’m sure that there’s no radiation hazard for us. As for the naturally-formed radioactive elements, they are not so dangerous and their levels do not exceed normal parameters. 

- A lot of leading countries are switching over to alternative energy sources. What are the pros and cons of this step?

- We can divide the alternative energy sources into two groups: renewable energy – sun, wind, etc. and non-renewable – such as atomic energy. Rapid progress has been achieved since 2006 in the field of atomic energy use. Even states processing considerable amounts of organic fuel, like Russia and Iran, have started developing their atomic energy systems. Some 17% of Russian energy is of atomic origin and Iran launched its first atomic plant recently.

Carbon output is considered one of the reasons for global warming and ecological deterioration. So oil-based energy production should be limited in the near future. Moreover, oil reserves are being drained. World reserves could cover the next century, or more likely 50-60 years. And the only energy source left will be atomic energy.

 - You are a scientist occupied with radiation problems. What is the problem that bothers you the most?

- I consider myself to be a researcher of nuclear problems, so I think that our country should develop modern atomic science for its energy needs. I think that nuclear technology will soon be used in many different spheres. If we want to develop these technologies here, in Azerbaijan, I think we must obtain the necessary equipment. We need a research nuclear reactor - and that’s my cherished dream, too. I think we should use nuclear power for energy production, now and in the future. At the moment we have to import isotopes for medical purposes, but I wish we produced them in our own country, that we had all modern nuclear technologies and well-educated staff for atomic facilities. Azerbaijan only intends to use nuclear energy for peaceful means. 

Interview by Ramin Naziyev, exclusively to VK