

EcoLur
A video has been posted on “EcoAlarm” webpage on EcoLur’s website, according to which the wastewater of Akhtala Ore Processing Combine are dumped into the Debed River: “Cocoa flowing through the Debed River,” the author of the video says.
Head of Foreign Relations Department of “Akhtala Ore Processing Combine” CJSC Gagik Shahnazaryan informed in reply to EcoLur’s inquiry that the water flowing in the video is not the wastewater from the Akhtala Tailing Dump. “It has no relation with the tailing dump. It relates to the section located downwards reclaimed Nazik Tailing Dump where our pipes run. Based on technical safety implications we have cleaned our tail pipelines so as not have an accident. We have transferred the tails to the tailing dump and have washed the remaining part – we have carried out mechanical cleaning. This water has been shot in the video,” Gagik Shahnazaryan said.
He mentioned that the workshop on dry tails will start operating in April and the tails will be transferred to mining pits, while the operating Nahatak tailing dump will be reclaimed. He didn’t exclude the possibility of constructing a new tailing dump.
Vruyr Pepanyan, Assistant to Head of RA Environmental and Mining Inspection Body, informed EcoLur that based on the video they carried out an examination, but they won’t provide information unless there are final outcomes of the examination.

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.
February 20, 2019 at 15:19
