EcoLur
EcoLur continues the series of materials concerning the EBRD loan for Deno Gold Mining Company in the amount of US million. The aim of the loan is to establish much higher standards and practices in environment, social conditions, health and safety, as well as to increase transparency of the company activities. The loan should be implemented in the countries of bank’s operation. In Armenia Deno Gold Mining develops its activities in Kapan, it owns Kapan ore processing combine and develops Shahumyan gold-polymetallic mine.
In the last report Deno Gold Company Director General Ilia Garkov expressed his opinion about the implementation of EBRD standards. This material presents Ex Syunik Regional Governor, Ex Director of Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine Roman Navasardyan and Kapan-based “For Ensuring Ecological Safety and Developing Democracy” NGO Chairman Rafayel Asryan.
Rafael Asryan: “Our understanding of safety and that of the company differ. Landslips took place in Shahumyan mine, in the area of Banavan. Then people were resettled, as an issue of safety arose and it was impossible for people to remain in this area. Recently ore depositing has taken place, the breakup reaches up to Yerevan-Meghri highway, which happened because of violating development standards mentioned by “Georisk” company (the company, which assessed geological risks of Shahumyan excavations in 2008-2007). The interstices should be filled with barren rock in order not have any gaps. We have standards for this purpose – not less than 11%, nevertheless only 7-8% is filled up.”
Note by EcoLur: Deno Gold Company Director General Ilia Garkov in his interview with EcoLur thinks, “I don’t know who determines this percentage. Gaps are filled as much as needed, i.e. selectively as needed. We fill in when there is such a need.”
Roman Navasardyan: “Shahumyan mine is unique: it’s possible to annually mine 300,000 tons in underground method. In this case, the mine can be developed 60 years. They (the company) want to expand production, and as we heard, they want to open the mine. They will process at least one million tons and the mine will get exhausted in 15 years...If Shahumyan mine is opened, Kapan Town should be closed and resettled according to the very standards of the bank. Kapan in located in the gorge and wind rose will blow off all the dust from mine to the town. And what this dust contains? Copper, lead and zinc…”
Rafayel Asryan: “Under standards, an open mine should be located in a distance of 20 km from any settlement. Shahumyan is directly located in a distance of 1 km from Kapan. Isn’t this insufficient not to open the mine? I officially declare that any resident of Kapan who will agree to opencast mining, if there is any, is the enemy of the nation. Copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, cadmium, selenium, tellurium, gallium, indium, bismuth, and germanium – all these elements are present in Shahumyan mine, they create site effects, which bear risks for health and safety of people... Certainly there are such technologies, which collect all the dust from explosions not allowing their emission into environment, in this case let them work...But today such technology doesn’t exist in Armenia...If they want to open them mine, let Kapan residents be resettled…”
December 19, 2012 at 14:28