“Kapan Ore Processing Plant” CJSC intends to increase the productivity of its beneficiation plant to 1 million tons, as well as reconstruct Geghanush tailing dump and repair the tunnel that diverts the Geghanush River.
The first public hearing on the preliminary application for the environmental impact assessment of this initiative is scheduled for July 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at Kapan Cultural Center.
The letter from Company’s General Director, Davit Danielyan, to Kapan Community Head Gevorg Parsyan, notes that the design capacity of the beneficiation plant is 1 million tons of ore per year, but currently the plant operates at a limited capacity of 600,000 tons per year. The company proposes to allow the plant to operate at its full design capacity, which will enable processing the entire volume of ore extracted from Shahumyan gold-polymetallic deposit, as well as mining and processing ore from Lichqvaz-Tey gold deposit at design volumes. Notably, Lichqvaz-Tey gold deposit’s annual production capacity is planned to be 100,000–300,000 tons according to the schedule.
It is also noted that the company has carried out a re-evaluation of the Shahumyan gold-polymetallic deposit’s reserves. In the future, the company plans to increase the mine’s productivity. “After the reserves are confirmed by expert examination, the company intends to develop a new Shahumyan mine operation project, under which the annual production capacity will reach up to one million tons of ore,” Davit Danielyan’s letter says.
“It is planned to change the development model of Geghanush tailing dump from June 2028 to a centerline type for the dam walls, which is considered safer for the environment and will allow ensuring sufficient tailings storage capacity for the plant until 2038,” the letter states.
It should be noted that this deposit and processing plant have been operated for decades by various companies from different countries. Currently, according to the State Register of Legal Entities, the operator is “Kapan Ore Processing Plant” CJSC, 100% owned by Armenian citizen Sasun Avetisyan. The company holds a soil management permit valid until 2050.
June 13, 2025 at 17:23