In 2019, the share of the mining industry and opencast mining sector in GDP constituted 2.8%, the number of people employed in the sector made up 9851 people, which is 1.65% of the total employment, as it is mentioned in the results of the study conducted by RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition in the field of mining. The study covers the period from January 2018 to October 2020.
According to the study, the volume of mining production in 2019 amounted to about 356.3 billion AMD, which increased by 23.9% compared to the previous year, mainly due to the extraction of metal ores.
Soil managers mainly extract copper, molybdenum, gold and zinc from metal ores. In 2018-2019 the largest share of exports of the main products of the metal mining industry was copper concentrate - 61.2%, the second is gold-silver alloy - 20.5% followed by molybdenum, ferromolybdenum and zinc concentrates.
Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine CJSC, which operates Qajaran Copper and Molybdenum Mine, is the leader in copper concentrate production with 81% followed by Agarak Copper and Molybdenum Combine developing Agarak copper and molybdenum mine - 11%, Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine CJSC developing Shamlugh copper mine – 4%,
Chaarat Kapan CJSC operating Shahumyan gold-polymetallic mine - 3%, Teghut CJSC operating Teghut copper-molybdenum mine - 1%.
"In the face of declining international copper prices, soil managers have sought to reduce the cost of production per unit of physical output to minimize financial losses, resulting in more intensive development of the country's subsoil," the study said. In 2018, 8010.3 tons of ferromolybdenum were exported from Armenia, whereas in 2019 - 8870 tons of ferromolybdenum with a customs value of 125 875.9 and 142 425.7 thousand USD, respectively. Armenian molybdenum products were bought by the Netherlands, Belgium and Russia.
Production and export of zinc concentrate is carried out only by Chaarat Kapan CJSC. In 2018, the company exported 12,473 tons of zinc concentrate to Belgium with a customs value of $ 20,489,000, and 12,158.5 tons with a customs value of $ 16,475.1 thousand in 2019.
GeoProMining Gold LLC, which operates Sotq gold mine in Armenia, exported 4,824.3 kg of gold-bearing gold bars with a customs value of 81.3 billion AMD to Switzerland in 2018 and 5627.7 kg in 2019 with a customs value of 103.2 billion AMD. Gold ore mining in Armenia in 2018 was also carried out by Meghradzor Gold LLC, which operates Meghradzor gold mine and exported gold concentrate to Switzerland.
January 25, 2021 at 20:07