Kyrgyzstan bans uranium mining after protests

Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament voted on Thursday to ban uranium exploration and mining in the Central Asian nation despite previously issuing licenses to foreign companies such as Canada’s Azarga Uranium.

The move, which may expose the Bishkek government to compensation claims from foreign investors, followed a series of public protests against plans to develop the Kyzyl Ompul project in which Azarga has a stake.