On July 11, "Sagamar" CJSC scheduled several public hearings regarding the geological prospecting planned for 2022-2025 in the mining area of the Yellow and Sev river basins in Stepanavan mineral area, Lori Region. Hearings initiated by the company were held in Urasar, Pushkino and Arjut settlements affected by the project, they were considered revoked in Stepanavan, and they were not held in Nor Khachakap.
Urasar
Urasar settlement is part of Stepanavan consolidated community. The hearings took place here. Residents spoke in favor of the plan.
Stepanavan
The second hearings took place in Stepanavan community hall. The representative of the Stepanavan municipality mentioned that Stepanavan town does not have land in the area indicated by the company and wondered why the hearings were organized near them. The representative of the company, Taron Navasardyan, informed that the area of the planned activity occupies about 130 square km, on which 44 wells will be drilled. Another representative of the company, Vigen Avetisyan, former Head of Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body, presented the brief methodology of the project. "Technological sampling of ore will be taken from prospective sites for laboratory research. The concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, precious metals will be determined in all samples, which will be used to calculate industrial reserves. The works will start in 3-4 quarters of 2022, the study will last 3 years." Oleg Dulgaryan, President of "Center for Community Mobilization and Support" NGO, who was present at the public hearing, wondered what the significance of the lands included in the requested area is for the community. The representative of the local government responded: "There are mainly agricultural pastures and other plots of land. We had planned to carry out afforestation works there, and we also studied the area. We just don't know where exactly they want, because Stepanavan doesn't have space there." The representative of "Sagamar" company stated that they will make an official request to the Cadastre Committee to determine the coordinates of the areas. In response, the representatives of the local government offered to clarify all that and only then initiate public hearings. "Stepanavan town does not have any land in the mentioned area, public hearings should not be held in Stepanavan," they said and revoked today's hearings.
Pushkino
The next stop was in Pushkino settlement in Gyulagarak consolidated community. Only a few residents from the settlement were present at the hearings. Most of the participants were company representatives and residents invited by them from Armanis settlement. Pushkino residents were not excited with "Sagamar project. "Every day we fight for land...the mine benefits the state, not the people," they said.
Arjut
The fourth hearing took place in Arjut community. Here, local residents also constituted a small number. In response to Oleg Dulgaryan's observation that proper awareness measures were not carried out Arjut community leader Vardan Mkrtchyan said, "It is published on the site. I don’t have to go door to door, inform...” Several local residents present at the hearing mentioned that there are already environmental and health problems in the community. "These people are dying from the smell of garbage. They is already a mine opened, if another mine is to be opened, let's die." "There are many promises, even then they said that the air pollution will be insignificant. It can have a full impact on health, I don't believe what is written on paper... we have a serious problem, we are creating another one for the future," a resident said. When the representatives of the company observed that jobs will be created, the residents responded that they do not have a job problem.
Nor Khachakap
The scheduled public hearings in Nor Khachakap settlement in Spitak consolidated community did not take place, because the residents were not aware of them and were not present. It should be noted that the administrative heads of Urasar, Pushkino and Arjut settlements informed that they will collect the opinions of the residents regarding the activity, and within three days a corresponding minute will be drawn up.
July 12, 2022 at 10:42