EcoLur
The opinions of NGOs and 'Geoteam' Company on Amoulsar gold mine development clashed each other.
On October 17 there were tense discussions after the presentation of 'Amoulsar-Gold Rush' Documentary produced by EcoLur in the frames of Sunchild festival. 'Geoteam' CJSC Environmental and Social Manager Armen Stepanyan thoroughly denied the expert opinion presented by Hrachya Avagyan, the film expert, Senior researcher at Institute of Economics of NAS RA, Dr. In Geological Sciences. ''I can say for sure everything that your respectable expert says doesn't comply with reality in any way,' said Armen Stepanyan.
'Based on their letter, representatives of the State Committee on Nuclear Safety Regulation visited our mine, took samples and made measurements. We don't know the exact figures of the measurements, but we do know all the figures are below the strictest standards,' A. Stepanyan said.
Nobody can guarantee that explosions made in case of opencast development won't touch uranium demonstrations. According to Inga Zarafyan, our state competent bodies need to conduct thorough examinations in the territory so as to map the exact borders of demonstrations for ensuring radiation security.
The other issue that concerns public most is that the mine is located only 12 km away from Jermuk Resort Town. 'We were newly gaining our independence, out state official were saying that we can maintain our country due to Jermuk, today Jermuk is our people's hope and belief, let's not lose it. Now I can see it will be the get lost, first of all, because of explosions to be conducted there,' said Nazeli Vardanyan, 'Forests of Armenia' NGO Chairman, 'let's leave Jermuk aside, let Jermuk keep on existing, and we can pride ourselves there are two such places in the world – Jermuk and Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.
'Geoteam' Company has outlined many times that dust emerging from explosions will get down in several minutes and won't reach Jermuk, while 'Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment' NGO representative, Hygienist Qnarik Grigoryan claimed, 'We will have high mortality rate, it will have impact on mental development, and underdevelopment is possible. People come to have a rest in this magnificent town, but if they see any mining nearby, they just won't come any more. '
The company is conducting researches and studies for the development of the thorough mine, and it hasn't presented any precise solution and programs so far to mitigate negative impact on environment and not t harm people's health, but it assures that water and soil won't get polluted, environmental impact will be minimum and people's health won't be harmed. 'I can't say now what kind of measures will be taken, but I can assure you that the impact will be minimum,' said Geoteam Rpresentative Armen Stepanyan in his speech.
In his speech hydrogeologist Ruben Yadoyan, PhD in Geological Sciences, said, 'You don't own the mine, the mine belongs to people., not even to the government, but to people, you just lease the mine. Who has measures the seismic impact of explosions on Jermuk. You know that Jermuk mine has very sensitive nature, even one shake is enough for waters to change their courses. Who makes a decision about shakes after explosions, this issue should also be given a solution.'
The discussion of this issue continued in Jermuk on 28 November organized by 'Geoteam' Company, which will be presented later.
December 07, 2011 at 14:54