Artsvanik tailings storage facility operated by Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine CJSC will be expanded. The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia has issued a positive conclusion on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the amendment to the project on mineral extraction at Qajaran copper-molybdenum deposit in Syunik Province.
The current area of Artsvanik tailings storage facility is approximately 630 hectares. As a result of the expansion, it will increase by 233 hectares, reaching a total area of 863 hectares.
According to the EIA report, the tailings storage facility has nearly exhausted its design capacity. As of January 1, 2025, the facility contained about 300 million cubic meters, which is 92.3% of the design capacity of 325 million cubic meters. The current dam crest elevation is 936 meters. Qajaran copper-molybdenum deposit has an annual production capacity of 22 million tons. At this level of production, Artsvanik tailings storage facility can operate until the end of 2026. Under the new project, the facility’s capacity is planned to be increased to 538 million cubic meters by raising the existing southern dam to an elevation of 985 meters.
Artsvanik Tailings Dam Expansion Plan
Rock-fill material will be used during the tailings facility expansion works.
According to the report, the inflow of the Artsvanik River into the tailings storage facility will be excluded. For this purpose, it is planned to divert the riverbed of the Artsvanik River by constructing an approximately 6 km-long reinforced concrete drainage channel and an approximately 0.5 km-long drainage tunnel.
Artsvanik tailings storage facility was commissioned in 1977. It is located in the gorge of the lower course of the Artsvanik River, within the administrative territory of Kapan community, Syunik Province, about 6 km from the city of Kapan and 34.5 km from Qajaran concentrator plant.
The villages of Artsvanik, Achanan, Chapni, Bargushat, and Sevaqar are located around the tailings storage facility at distances ranging from 490 to 800 meters.
The expert conclusion notes that, within the framework of corporate social responsibility, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine CJSC undertakes an annual financial obligation of 2.1 billion AMD.
The Ministry of Environment issued the positive conclusion subject to the mandatory fulfillment of 15 expert requirements. According to these requirements, the company must ensure the implementation of planned social programs in the affected settlements, guarantee the safe operation, supervision, and monitoring of the tailings storage facility, prevent the discharge and leakage of wastewater into the Achanan River, exclude the inflow of Artsvanik River waters into the facility, and ensure preliminary treatment of clarified waters.
The area to be affected by the tailings storage facility expansion is planned to amount to 233 hectares.
During the expert review process, it was determined that approximately 15 hectares of the expansion area are state-owned forest lands under the management of “ArmForest” SNCO. It has been proposed to carry out afforestation works at least three times the size of the affected forest area.
The cost of reclamation works following the completion of the operation of Artsvanik tailings storage facility has been estimated at 19 billion AMD.
January 08, 2026 at 15:25