EcoLur
We call for Nature Protection Ministry to stop this non-substantiated parade of public hearings on the projects in mining sector and not to promote the absence of transparency of the activities of mining companies and increase in corruption risks in mining sector.
The companies dealing with the mining sector, having agreed with Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia, announced a package of public hearings late in December. We can see deliberateness both in the actions of companies and those of Nature Protection Ministry. Thus, public hearings of 10 (!) projects have been appointed from 5 to 21 December, while there are 3 public hearings on 18 December at once – in Sotq (project by GeoProMining Gold Company), in Litchq and Aygedzor (projects by “Tatston” Company).
Vast majority of the project bear high risks for health and safety of people and environment. The public hearings will be held in villages, where people have no idea about these risks and have to be guided by the explanations provided either by company or by project developers. As our experience prompts, very frequently project developers and companies misinform the locals up to distortion of data in the project documents. The only source of alternative information is independent experts and active society. But taking into consideration the rate of the public hearings to be held, the public is deprived of its right to comprehensive participation and doesn’t manage to examine the project documentation, while in the case when three public hearings are appointed on the same day, people can’t physically take part in the three public hearings at once.
The conclusions are as follows: Nature Protection Ministry, with which the companies make an arrangement to hold public hearings, demonstrates disinterest in ensuring the public right to participation in decision-making process, i.e. the Ministry violates the Arhus Convention. With the above-mentioned actions, the Ministry promotes the absence of transparency of the activities of mining companies and consequently, increases corruption risks in the mining sector.
We appeal to Nature Protection Ministry with a demand to ensure full-value participation in public hearings, namely:
1. To demand from companies to hold public hearings with the participation of experts in Yerevan on the project of cyanic plant of Meghradzor Gold Company, the amended project of Sotq gold mine by GeoProMining Gold, Ltichq copper mine development by “Tatsun” LLC, Aygedzor copper and molybdenum mine (Tghkut area) by “Tatsun” LLC, Tezh-Sar nepheline-syenite mine by Alumina Corporation, amended project of Samlukh copper-pyrites mine by Akhtala Ore Processing Combine.
2. Not to appoint new public hearings on any of the projects submitted to the environmental expertise till the end of December and to provide public with an opportunity to get acquainted with the projects.
3. In accordance with the Aarhus Convention, to ensure ecological information on all projects on which public hearings should be carried out, to display projects on the website of Nature Protection Ministry or on the website of the company having submitted the project or to provide a link to that particular information. If the company doesn’t have its own website or refuses to provide the electronic version of the project, in this case to admit that the company doesn’t ensure the transparency of its activities, conceals information from stakeholders, and to turn down the project until the required information is provided.
December 18, 2012 at 15:50