The road to "Boghakari" sanctuary of "Arevik" National Park became a road for trucks transporting ore from Litchqvaz-tea gold mine in Syunik Region. "EcoLur" camera recorded how the trucks enter the territory of the sanctuary without considering the presence of signs prohibiting the entrance to the sanctuary.
The representative of the only household in Aygedzor settlement, complained to EcoLur of the dust raised by the trucks and noted that no tourist has not visited his recreation area for two years because of this dust.
The mine is operated by “Litchqvaz” CJSC (currently “AGRS” (Armenian Gold Resources Corporation) LLC).
In 2017, the working project " Litchqvaz-Tey Gold Mining" received positive conclusion № BP60 of environmental expert assessment, one of its requirements is the exclusion of any work in specially protected areas, as well as the implementation of the envisaged activity in accordance with Article 20 of RA Law on Special Protected Areas, as well as taking into account the requirements of Annex N1 approved by the decision N 1209-N dated on 15.10.2009 “On Establishing “Arevik” National Park of RA Government, approving Articles of Association of “Arevik” National Park and “Arevik National Park” State Non-Commercial Organization.
In fact, the soil manager does not ensure the protection of nature, particularly Arevik National Park, from the harmful effects of soil management works, violating the contractual requirements of soil management contract and Clause 4 of expert opinion BP 60 dated on 29.06.2017.
On the other hand, it is unclear whether the state authorities, after issuing the permit, imagined the way in which the raw materials had to be transported from the mine in order to comply with the law.
Trucks transport the ore to Kapan Mining and Processing Plant for processing. The waste generated as a result of ore processing is disposed of in Geghanush tailing dump. This tailing dump is intended for industrial waste generated from the processing of ore extracted from Shahumyan gold-polymetallic mine. The volume of Geghanush tailing dump is 11 million cubic meters, the area is 45 hectares.
In 2018, “Kapan” ODC CJSC applied for the preliminary environmental impact assessment of “Increasing Geghanush Tailings Dam Safety and Reliability” project, which did not pass the examination. EcoLur presented this issue to RA Acting Environment Minister, proposing to assess the cumulative impact on the tailing dump, to force the company to strengthen the dam to avoid accidents.
After the community enlargement, Lehvaz settlement located in the impact zone of Litchqvaz -Tey mine was deprived of the opportunity to have a dialogue with the soil manager. Rafik Mkrtchyan, Administrative Head of Lehvaz/Vardanidzor settlements, told EcoLur that there is no connection with the soil manager at all.
In response to the question asked by EcoLur whether the support provided by the company to the affected settlement has decreased as a result of the enlargement of the communities, Head of Organizational Department of Meghri Community Municipality Vanik Sargsyan said, “If "Litchqvaz " CJSC has given money to Lehvaz as an affected community, we will not take it and put that money in Lehvaz more or less, as it will not be fair. We are implementing more promising projects, the impact of which may be even more for Lehvaz settlement.”
This material has been prepared within “Liability of Non-operating Mining Companies in EITI Process” project impletmened by EcoLur with the USAID support within the frames of “Engaged Citizenry for Responsible Governance” project implemented by Transparency International Anticorruption Center.
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
May 25, 2021 at 15:47