"Sagamar" CJSC intends to carry out a geological prospecting in "Chknagh-Armanis" section of the Stepanavan mineral field in Lori Region in 2024-2027. On January 26, 2024, the company initiated public hearings (second stage) in Urasar and Armanis villages in Stepanavan community, Pushkino in Gyulagarak community, and Arjut in Pambak community.
The company has submitted to the Ministry of Environment the preliminary environmental impact assessment (EIA) for geological prospecting to be carried out. During 2024-2027, it is planned to carry out search and evaluation works of individual formations, mineralized zones, nodes in the Chknagh-Armanis prospective area of Stepanavan mineral field.
The claimed site occupies about 5149.7221 hectares.
Construction of 15 drilling platforms with dimensions of 70 sq/m is planned to provide the necessary working space for drilling operations, installation of equipment, as well as turning of the drilling machine.
After the completion of search and evaluation works, it is planned to carry out reclamation of disturbed lands. Excavated soil and topsoil from the area of prospectors, scrubbers and drilling platforms will be backfilled. Reclamation costs 10,230.13 thousand AMD.
The claimed site occupies about 5149.7221 hectares.
Construction of 15 drilling platforms with dimensions of 70 sq/m is planned to provide the necessary working space for drilling operations, installation of equipment, as well as turning of the drilling machine.
After the completion of search and evaluation works, it is planned to carry out reclamation of disturbed lands. Excavated soil and topsoil from the area of prospectors, scrubbers and drilling platforms will be backfilled. The cost of reclamation works is 10,230.13 thousand AMD.
Reminder: "Sagamar" CJSC owns soil management rights of Armanis gold-polymetallic mine. According to soil management contract PV-093 dated on 20.12.2012, the company should operate the mine during 2012-2049. However, the mine has not been developed since 2015. TAI Ministry started administrative proceedings against "Sagamar" CJSC, because the company did not pay 9,481,120 AMD to Environmental Protection Fund, as well as did not operate Armanis gold-polymetallic mine in 2016-2019. The company transferred 9,124,557 AMD to the account of the Central Treasury in 2021 and started mineral extraction in March 2021.
As early as July 2022, the company organized public hearings in Urasar, Stepanavan, Pushkino, Arjut and Nor Khachakap regarding the planned geological prospecting at the mining site of the Yellow and Sev river basins in Stepanavan mineral region. The hearings in several localities were declared adjourned because local residents were not present.
Reminder: the studies carried out in 2021by Czech "Arnica" NGO dealing with chemical safety issues with the support of the Armenian "Center for Community Mobilization and Support" NGO and "EcoLur" lnformational NGO showed that these areas are contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, zinc, molybdenum, etc. These same metals were also found in normal concentrations in bio-samples taken from Urasar and Armanis settlements of Stepanavan consolidated community in Lori Region under the influence of Armanis gold-polymetallic mine and industrial waste dumps.
January 25, 2024 at 17:50