Uranium miner Areva SA has been cleared of causing any damage to the environment and being responsible for cattle deaths. Residents of Ulaanbadrakh soum in Dornogobi aimag have for long been blaming uranium exploration in the area for cattle deaths and defective animal births. The company denied any link between its operations and the unfortunate events, and finally a working group was formed in April to resolve the issue.
A team comprising representatives from the Nuclear Energy Agency, the General Agency for Specialised Inspection, and the Department of Veterinary and Animal Breeding has corroborated the assertions of Areva.The team reports that it found the concentration of selenium in the area to be high, but that would not be unusual for the area. However, it has no explanation for the animal deaths. Samples have been sent to South Korea, and the team awaits test results.