On October 18, an alarm signal was beaten on social networks that a mine was being developed in the territory of Khosrov Forest State Reserve. Environment Ministry issued a statement denying the rumours. "No mine is operated in the territory of Khosrov Forest State Reserve. Jradzor diatomite mine, which has been developed since the days of the Soviet Union, is not located in the territory of Khosrov Forest State Reserve. As a result of the operation of the mine, diatomite filtering powder is obtained," the official press release states.
Jradzor diatomite mine is located in Qaghtsrashen village, 4 km from Khosrov Forest State Reserve, about 20 km to the southeast is “Goravan Sands” Sanctuary, and 11.5 km from the “Dashtaqar Cave” Nature Monument, as we learn from the preliminary environmental impact assessment (EIA) application of "Diatomit" GA CJSC, which currently operates the mine, to increase the volume of mineral extraction from Jradzor diatomite mine in Ararat Region.
The mine has been operated by open pit for more than 35 years from 1975-1996 and 2004 to now, the company. Already in 2022, the company applied to the Ministry to increase the production volumes in the mine by 13.5%, bringing the extracted annual volume of mineral to 13,000 cubic meters. As a result of the change in the annual ore productivity, the area of the open pit will make up 29.5 ha. The amount of provided balance reserves will make up 799,000 cubic meters, industrial reserves will make up 735,000 cubic meters.
Under the project, ore extraction during mining will be carried out by mechanical crushing.
On June 27, 2023, the Ministry of Environment issued a positive conclusion to the preliminary environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the company's Jradzor diatomite mine mineral extraction activities.
October 20, 2023 at 16:40