Re-mediating metal mine contaminated water bodies in Asia - Workshop

During July 2-5, 2018, Nazarbayev University together with Durham University held a workshop on “Remediating Metal Mine Contaminated Water Bodies in Asia” in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The PEER project contributors from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kazakhstan has also took part in this workshop by delivering presentations.

The workshop for academics, policy makers and regulators across all countries involved has three main aims: First is to enable collaborations amongst academics working in the field, stimulate new research and build research capacity; second is to give researchers, policy makers and students an opportunity to brainstorm ideas to use low cost sustainable adsorbents in the field; and third is to form a good base for formulating an application to the GCRF Fund. The workshop was planned for three full days organized through a combination of presentations, Q&A sessions and discussions in smaller groups.

Topics addressed include:

- The current knowledge on polluted water courses in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey – Including field trip

- The use of low cost sustainable metal removal adsorbents – Adsorbents showcase

- The best-fitted adsorbents to be scaled up (and how) in order to treat a selected case study water site – Ideas Brainstorm Workshop to encourage discussion

- The implementation of the best-fitted adsorbents on field and pave the way for an Asian GCRF proposal to tackle mine water impacted water ways.

PEER project presentations from Afghanistan, includes:
Presentation by Mohammad Daud Hamidi, "An Overview of Water Quality of Kabul River"
Presentation by Jamal Naser Shokory, "Major Challenges facing WASH in Afghanistan and Sustainability concerns"

Pakistani delegates who could not attend workshop due to visa issues gave presentations through Skype on the following topics. Dr. Muhammad Abid, Ms. Zaineb Abid, Ms. Saiqa Imran and Ms. Rabbia Murtaza.

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