The Government of the Republic of Armenia intends to dismantle “Nairit” plant, clean the site to make it environmentally safe, and render it suitable for development. The World Bank will support the Government of Armenia in this work. Through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development within its structure, the World Bank will provide, or has already provided, Armenia with a grant of USD 1.5 million, which will be directed mainly toward design and assessment activities, while the core program, according to the World Bank, will cost USD 60 million.
Ecolur has sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, requesting clarification on the following:
- At what stage is the environmental rehabilitation and regeneration program of “Nairit” plant?
- Have the target uses of the site been determined after the dismantling of “Nairit” plant and the cleanup of soil and groundwater contaminated with hazardous chemical substances?
- What is the vision for addressing the issue of neutralization or recovery of metallic waste generated from the dismantling of the plant’s infrastructure and exposed to chemical contamination?
- Does the Ministry plan to adopt a concept and action plan for the implementation of this process?
- Is it envisaged to include in the environmental rehabilitation and regeneration program of “Nairit” plant the incineration process of 33 types of hazardous chemical waste belonging to “Nairit Plant” CJSC (with the exception of 1,223,027.0 kg of ethyl alcohol), planned by “Eco-Group International” LLC (for which “Eco-Group International” LLC received a positive environmental impact assessment conclusion BP-0031-21 from the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia in 2021)?
By response letter AS//43112-2025, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure provided information submitted by Murad Petrosyan, the administrator in the bankruptcy case of “Nairit Plant” CJSC, which states: “Representatives of the World Bank visited ‘Nairit Plant’ CJSC on October 3, 2025. They provided information about the activities to be carried out within the framework of the USD 1.5 million grant. In particular, it was noted that sampling of chemical substances present at ‘Nairit Plant’ CJSC and soil sampling would be conducted, and a detailed study would be carried out, which will last 14 months. Apart from the above, ‘Nairit Plant’ CJSC does not possess any other information.”
Ecolur also sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Environment to clarify what activities “Eco-Group International” LLC is currently carrying out in this area, whether-under the new developments around Nairit-the indefinite license granted to “Eco-Group International” LLC within the framework of the agreement concluded with the World Bank and the BP-0031-21 conclusion will remain in force, and whether the company will continue its activities under the new circumstances. On the basis of which civil-law document does “Eco-Group International” LLC provide/plan to provide waste incineration services, and which parties have signed this document?
In response, by letter No. 5/26.18/14061, the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia reported that “Eco-Group International” LLC is currently not carrying out any activities on the territory of “Nairit” plant. On December 12, 2021, the Ministry of Environment granted the company an indefinite license No. 0017-21 for hazardous waste management activities. This license remains valid, as there are no grounds for suspension or termination of the license as stipulated by the Law on Licensing. With regard to the positive state environmental impact assessment conclusion BP-0031-21 issued by the Ministry, it is noted that, pursuant to Article 20 (7) of the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise, the expert conclusion loses its validity if the implementation of the planned activity does not commence within one year after the conclusion is issued.
In response to Ecolur’s inquiry regarding the activities of “Eco-Group International” LLC at “Nairit” and the progress of the agreement concluded with the World Bank, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia referred Ecolur to the Ministries of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and of Environment.
Ecolur also sent an inquiry to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, who will coordinate the implementation of the activities through an office to be established under the Deputy Prime Minister. However, no response has been received yet.
Thus, the responses provided indicate that no risk-reduction measures have been implemented at “Nairit” plant, which is considered a hazardous facility. In 2015, the World Bank conducted a study on the economic feasibility of operating “Nairit.” In 2025, the Government of the Republic of Armenia applied to the World Bank for support in implementing the environmental rehabilitation and regeneration program of “Nairit” plant. According to the approved program plan, phased monitoring of the Program must be carried out. However, the results of the monitoring have not yet been published on any platform.
January 22, 2026 at 16:03