Krasnokamensk, Chita Oblast
Encyclopedia
Krasnokamensk is a town and the administrative center of Krasnokamensky District
of Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
, located 535 kilometres (332.4 mi) southeast of Chita, near the Chinese
border. It is best known as the site for Russia's largest uranium
mine. Population:
deposits, which had been discovered near the present site of the city in 1963. The settlement grew quickly, and was granted town status in 1969.
The name translates roughly as town on red stone, with the reference to the colour red reflecting both the actual rock formations in the area, as well as its political symbolism in the Soviet era.
From October 2005 until December 2006, Mikhail Khodorkovsky
, formerly the 16th-richest man in the world, was jailed in Krasnokamensk on his conviction for tax evasion
and fraud
.
mine, the largest in Russia. The mine produces around 90% of Russia's total output, and almost 10% of world production. In addition to uranium, molybdenum
, manganese
and brown coal are also mined close to the town, with associated chemical plants producing sulphuric acid and lubricants.
A branch railway has connected the town to Russia's rail network since 1972. It is served by the Krasnokamensk Airport
.
, Krasnokamensk has generated fifty to seventy-five million tons of tailings, making it the largest waste stream at a uranium production site in the world. A Baley community survey documents hundreds of homes with radiation levels as much as 10-20 times the permissible levels. About 500-1000 homes or more suffer from radiation exposures far above international standards.
In recent years, the dangerously high levels of radioactivity have seen a number of the town's districts near the tailing dumps, such as the settlement Oktyabrsky, evacuated and resettled closer to the town center.
Krasnokamensky District
Krasnokamensky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 31 in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. The area of the district is . Its administrative center is the town of Krasnokamensk. Population: 9,987 ; Population of Krasnokamensk accounts for 86.2% of the district's...
of Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located 535 kilometres (332.4 mi) southeast of Chita, near the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
border. It is best known as the site for Russia's largest uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
mine. Population:
History
Krasnokamensk was founded in 1968, in conjunction with the commencement of mining of the Streltsovskoye uraniumUranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
deposits, which had been discovered near the present site of the city in 1963. The settlement grew quickly, and was granted town status in 1969.
The name translates roughly as town on red stone, with the reference to the colour red reflecting both the actual rock formations in the area, as well as its political symbolism in the Soviet era.
From October 2005 until December 2006, Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky is a Russian prisoner, considered by some - such as Amnesty International - to have been imprisoned for political reasons, jailed until 2016 and a former Russian oligarch and businessman...
, formerly the 16th-richest man in the world, was jailed in Krasnokamensk on his conviction for tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
and fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
.
Economy and infrastructure
It is best known for its uraniumUranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
mine, the largest in Russia. The mine produces around 90% of Russia's total output, and almost 10% of world production. In addition to uranium, molybdenum
Molybdenum
Molybdenum , is a Group 6 chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42. The name is from Neo-Latin Molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek , meaning lead, itself proposed as a loanword from Anatolian Luvian and Lydian languages, since its ores were confused with lead ores...
, manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
and brown coal are also mined close to the town, with associated chemical plants producing sulphuric acid and lubricants.
A branch railway has connected the town to Russia's rail network since 1972. It is served by the Krasnokamensk Airport
Krasnokamensk Airport
Krasnokamensk Airport is an airport in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia located 7 km south of Krasnokamensk. Services prop transports. It contains a single utilitarian tarmac but is well-maintained, with first-rate construction, and can easily service jets....
.
Pollution
According to the Blacksmith InstituteBlacksmith Institute
Founded in 1999, Blacksmith Institute is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating life-threatening pollution in the developing world. Blacksmith identifies and cleans up the world's worst polluted places, focusing on communities where children are most at risk. Based in...
, Krasnokamensk has generated fifty to seventy-five million tons of tailings, making it the largest waste stream at a uranium production site in the world. A Baley community survey documents hundreds of homes with radiation levels as much as 10-20 times the permissible levels. About 500-1000 homes or more suffer from radiation exposures far above international standards.
In recent years, the dangerously high levels of radioactivity have seen a number of the town's districts near the tailing dumps, such as the settlement Oktyabrsky, evacuated and resettled closer to the town center.