Inga Zarafyan, EcoLur
The State Nature Protection Expertise of the Ministry of Nature Protection RA has really given a positive conclusion to “Gegamet” company for exploitation of Shorzha and Jill deposits in Sevan basin.
Aram Harutyunyan, the Minister of Nature Protection RA, confirmed this information at the off-site session on Sevan Lake Problems on November 25. However, as the Minister noted, it does not break the RA law “On Lake Sevan”, as the company activity is connected only to extraction of ore, but not with its processing ("EcoLur": the ban on processing of ore in Sevan basin is laid down in Article 10 of the Law). According to Deputy Minister Simon Papyan, processing will be carried out of Sevan basin, at the enterprises of Hrazdan Town.
Nevertheless, local NGOs informed us, that the company started not only the mine exploitation in Shorzha, but also the processing of ore.
Minister has advised the ecological inspection to check up the information on a place.
Another interesting fact: the booklet of “Gegamet” company says that the company is Armenian-Russian-Cyprian, but in the press release, the same company is named as Armenian-Russian-British. By the way, the company says nothing about enterprises of Hrazdan, instead it informs, that a number of new processing enterprises with non-polluting technologies will be constructed. According to Khachik Manukyan, Deputy of RA National Assembly, one of the founders of the company, the company activity will not be "harmless for the ecology of Sevan Lake".
December 02, 2008