Substantiations of Meghradzor Residents and Civil Society regarding Rejection of Re-assessment of Tezhaget Nepheline Syenite Reserves

Meghradzor residents and representatives of civil society expressed their opposition to the reassessment of nepheline syenite reserves of Tezhaget site in Tezhasar mine, Kotayk Region, by "Am Art Shin" LLC. EcoLur presents excerpts from the speeches of the local population and civil society representatives.

President of "EcoLur" NGO Inga Zarafyan: "Already the third company is applying to develop this mine. Precedents have been rejected. In this plan, there is no description of all the activities planned for the mine, operation of the mine, construction of the factory, while the ultimate purpose of the study is development."

Movses Manukyan, a member of “Healthy Hrazdan" initiative: "We all clearly understand that studies will be done for development, the areas of Armenia where mines are development are polluted and unfit for habitation."

Local residents: "Can you tell us what the existing mine gives us, then tell us what will happen with the new mine. One damage is enough for us... Can they bring someone, give 1000 dollars, tell them to eat arsenic, die... The state will remain a state without people, if we are all poisoned, there is no state left... We are against the mine project, don't touch our soil."

President of Union of Greens of Armenia Hakob Sanasaryan: "This project concerns residents living in different settlements, because we are dealing with the most important water vein of the irrigation system of Armenia, the Hrazdan River and its tributaries. There is another factor that everyone should consider. That entire mineral zone is full of scattered uranium, which will reach the people of Armenia together with the processed materials of the mine."