After 2025, Russian "GeoProMining Gold" LLC intends to develop Armenia's largest gold mine, Sotq, in an underground manner. The company's report has already reached the final stage of public discussions of environmental expert assessment. The fourth public discussion of the environmental impact assessment report of Sotq gold mine open pit and underground mineral extraction project is scheduled for August 11, 2022 at 14:00 at the residence of the administrative head of Sotq settlement, Vardenis community, Gegharkunik Region.
According to the document, the mine will continue to be operated in an open-pit manner until 2025, but the productivity, which is currently 1.0 million tons per year, will be increased to 1.75 million tons per year, whereas starting from 2025, the mine will be operated in an underground manner with an annual productivity of 400,000 tons.
August 10, 2022 at 10:25