Akhtala is a large mining community in Lori Region, which is located in Pambak-Debed valley-forest subregion. Akhtala enlarged community includes Akhtala and Shamlugh industrial towns, Mets Ayrum, Poqr Ayrum, Tchotchkan, Bendik, Neghots villages, where over 7,000 people inhabit.
Akhtala Mining and Processing Plant CJSC operates in Akhtala and has 500 employees, out of whom 400 w are Akhtala community residents. Some of Akhtala residents are employed in another mining enterprise, “Teghut” CJSC. Despite the availability of jobs, social and environmental problems have accumulated in the community, which affect the economic development of the community.
"Akhtala Mining and Processing Plant" CJSC operating in Akhtala enlarged community operates Shamlugh copper mine. The mine is located in Shamlugh settlement, whereas "Nahatak" tailing dump is located in between Mets Ayrum and Tchotchkan settlements, which is planned to be reclaimed. On July 22, 2021, the tailings reclamation project received positive EIA conclusion № BP 0132-21.
The company has two more tailing dumps called "Nazik" and "Pahesti Dzor". The first is located in Akhtala town, next to Akhtala monastery complex, and is considered to be reclaimed, and the second one is situated on Akhtala-Shamlugh road.
Liabilities of Akhtala OPC towards Community
Akhtala Mining and Processing Plant did not include any socio-economic assistance obligations to Akhtala community in its soil management contract. Meanwhile, after the enlargement of Akhtala community in 2017, an agreement was reached between the company and the community, under which the company allocates 5 million AMD per month (60 million AMD per year) to the community.
"This amount of compensation is not just social support for the economic development of the community. Last year, we asked the plant to support us with 20 million AMD in addition to 60 million AMD to implement the community programs," Akhtala Community Head Arkady Tamazyan said.
"We have combined the company's environmental fee with subsidy programs and directed the funds to the renovation of Shamlugh Park in 2021." Arkady Tamazyan said.
To solve the above-mentioned problems, Arkady Tamazyan sees one way: the company should increase the financial support provided to the community, but it should not be in the form of donations and goodwill.
"The state should transfer a part of a specific tax type to the community, for example, from the company's income tax to the community. This issue should be decentralized and descended from the level of the state to the level of the community,” the community head explained.
He noted that there is a serious problem with the location and storage of Akhtala LHC waste. Until 2021, the waste generated due to the operation of Shamlugh mine was accumulated in "Nahatak" tailing dump, but it is full now and is in being primed to be closed.
"The plant once operated by filling the tailings dump with an open system. Then they tried to work with a closed system. At the moment the closed system has not justified itself, the problem is that there is no other place to dump the waste. Now we have to think of another way of mining so that the plant does not stop.
Problems in Shamlugh Town
Most of 800 residents of Shamlugh work in Shamlugh copper mine owned by Akhtala OPC. Most of them are engaged in cattle breeding and cultivate the land near their homes. Arthur Aghababyan, the administrative representative of Shamlugh settlement, mentioned that they have 137.65 hectares of agricultural land area, but most of them are arid due to the lack of irrigation water. His desire is to develop tourism. "Currently, we are working in that direction. We are repairing roads. Shamlugh has beautiful nature, a number of historical and cultural sites. We have active young people who take measures for the development of tourism, for example, they have organized a car drive here," Arthur Aghababyan mentioned.
He also mentioned that the accumulation of mining waste is a serious problem in Shamlugh. "It will take many years to clean up the waste that has been accumulated for more than 200 years. State intervention is needed to solve all these problems," he said.
Prospects for Development of Mets Ayrum
"Nahatak" tailing dump in the village of Mets Ayrum is a source of environmental pollution and health deterioration of local residents, which has been evidenced for years by research conducted by various local and international organizations. Residents do not have sufficient means to mitigate or address the damage caused to them, as the social situation in the settlement is low and there are many beneficiary families. There is a problem of jobs here, lack of opportunities for the alternative development of the village. The main workplaces in Mets Ayrum are the municipality, the school and the kindergarten, and the seasonal employment with the farmers during the summer harvest and in the workshop of drying fruits.
Gayane Allahverdyan, the administrative representative of Mets Ayrum, noted that in the case of reclamation of the tailing dump, it is possible to think about the prospects of tourism development, which, in its turn, will provide an opportunity to create new jobs. "We have historical and cultural churches and cross-stones in the forest. However, it would be right to organize special courses with active residents to transfer skills to host tourists,” she said.
According to Gayane Allahverdyan, at present an attempt is being made to develop agriculture as well. "Residents are planting new orchards in an area of 400 hectares quite far from the tailing dump, which has already been harvested," she said.
Gayane Allahverdyan mentioned that the establishment of a cannery and a sewing plant in Mets Ayrum will ensure with permanent jobs throughout the year, so the residents will not have to rely on seasonal summer work.
This article was prepared within the framework of "Social and Ecological Responsibility" project.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Community Mobilization and Support Center” NGO and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
January 12, 2022 at 14:38