EcoLur
The residents in Alaverdi Town are covered with 25 thousand tons of sulphuric anhydrite per year. Moreover, besides sulphuric anhydrite, the emissions contain 38,6 tons of a wide range of metals, mostly copper and lead. In practice, the whole town is in the first zone under the impact of the emissions by the Copper Molybdenum Combine in Alaverdi where the concentration of emissions can exceed the permissible limit by 30 times. The impact of emissions drastically reduces in other three zones and is close to the norm in the fourth one.
The persons, who participated in the discussion of “Geo Alaverdi: Environment and Urban Development” report, defined the situation in Alaverdi Town as an ecological disaster. This report was drawn up by an expert group headed by Gevorg Nazaryan and with the participation of Alaverdi Town Hall.
The report analyzes the socio-economic and ecological state in Alaverdi Town, and the future development ways were worked out on its basis. One of the most important conclusions of the report was as follows: the activity of the Copper Molybdenum Combine in Alaverdi rapidly impacts on the socio-ecological state in the town. The annual amount of industrial wastes emptied by the Combine has made up more than 30 thousand tons since 2004. The land in the diameter of 3 kilometers off the Combine (approximately a land area of 30 square kilometers) is affected with heavy metals and their concentration exceeds the permissible limit by 20-40 times. Besides, the permissible limit for copper concentration exceeds by 32,3 times, and that of lead- by 16,0 times. Moreover, this land is affected with many elements, such as mercury, arsenic, molybdenum, nickel, cadmium, chrome etc. Taking into consideration the fact, that copper has been mining in Alaverdi since 18th century, heavy metals have penetrated even into the fertile layers of the soil. As there are no winds, emissions cover the gorge if the Debed River.
Desertification processes have started not only in Alaverdi Town, but also in the adjacent areas. The forests surrounding the town are affected by gas erosion. As a reminder: the forests in Lori have a protective function against erosion and landslips. The forests are also one of the essential factors for well-being of the local population.
Continuation of ecological and social situation description in Alaverdi in www.ecolur.org future publications.
September 09, 2009