EcoLur
The base rate of the money to be paid to the Environmental Preservation Fund “Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine” CJSC developing Shamlugh copper mine in Lori Region is 190,968,000 AMD. According to the EITI first national report, in 2016-2017 the combine didn’t pay to the Environmental Preservation Fund estimated 26,388,000 and 32,466,000 AMD, respectively. It should be mentioned that the payments for 2016 and 2017 were co-executed in 2018.
The impacted communities of Shanlugh mine and tailing dumps are as follows: Akhtala and Shamough towns, Tchotchkan and Mets Ayrum Villages in Lori Region, Ayrum Town, Artchis, Deghdzavan, Debedavan, Ltchkadzor, Haghtanak, Ptghavan, Berdavan, and Zorakan Villages in Tavush Region. The combine didn’t have commitments in regard to socio-economic development of these communities and didn’t make any allocations in 2016 and 2017.
The environmental fees paid by the combine have been directed mainly to covering streets with asphalt and garbage collection. Taking into consideration the need of enormous funds needed to clean soil and water from heavy metals, the communities don’t submit projects for such measures as environmental fees paid are small.
It should be mentioned that in 2016 Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine produced 8,262 tons of copper concentrate worth 3,031,088,625 AMD, while in 2017 it produced 13,30 tons of copper concentrate worth 3,934,992,123 AMD.
It’s noteworthy that the combine, besides the concentrate it produced, purchased copper concentrate from Zangezour copper and molybdenum combine (ZCMC) and in 2016 exported 8176 tons of copper concentrate to Bulgaria (245 tons less than ZCMC) worth 2,960,423,860 AMD, which is less than the concentrate it produces. Nevertheless, in 2017 it produced more than exported 18,050 tons of concentrate (4470 tons from ZCMC) worth 8,740,582,998 AMD.
This material has been prepared within “Mining-Impacted Communities – Full Participants in EITI Process'” project implemented 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.
July 31, 2019 at 20:12