Ararat Resident: I Don’t Find Any Place for My Child to Live

EcoLur

GeoProMining Gold Mining presented the process of re-equipment of Ararat Gold Recovery Factory. Company Head Siman Povarenkin told the ArmInfo in his interview: ““Albion” innovative technology is the part of wide-scale program for factory modernization which enables to significantly improve production effectiveness of the enterprise with compliance to high ecological standards.” To understand what the matter is about we want to draw the attention to the document – the conclusion of the Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of NAS RA entitled “Toxicity of Soil, Water and Plants in the Region of Ararat Gold Recovery Factory” dated on 10.06.1999. In accordance with the conclusion, soil pollution in the region of Ararat Gold Recovery Factory with arsenic and chromium exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by 10 and 166 times, respectively.  The content of these elements in irrigation water contained the maximum permissible concentration by 127 and 100 times, while that of copper -  by 40 times. These toxic elements pass into agricultural products grown in these land areas through water and soil: the crops studied by the Center contained arsenic, lead and cadmium which exceeded the MPC by 7, 8 and 3 times, respectively.

All the abovementioned elements are classified as more toxic ones. Thus, in its report the Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of NAS RA draws attention to the fact that, for example, arsenic refers to more toxic elements and is poison which may cause lung cancer, affects on generating heart malformation and nervous system.

12 years have passed since these studies and the aforementioned problems haven’t been removed, but intensified, as heavy elements have an inclination to accumulation and spreading in environment. New pollution has been added to the existing one. GeoProMining Company obtained the assets of Ararat Gold Recovery Factory in 2007. We can’t say what’s the company’s share in pollution, as pursuant to the legislation, the company doesn’t pay for industrial wastes. “Sotq mine, a part of our group, is rich in sulfide mines which were almost impossible to mine in the past. “Albion” technology is unique as it enables processing these very ores. Thus, it can be said our project is the beginning of the new life for Sotq mine. After the launch of the new line, we plan to make the production volume up to 150,000 ounces of gold per year due to “Albion” technology,” said Siman Povarenkin in his interview with the ArmInfo. It turns out that Albion technology enables mining more gold than it used to be thus increasing company revenue. Nevertheless, industrial wasted left after gold mining which contain the aforementioned elements stay there.

It should be noted if Ararat residents are not familiar with scientific studies, however, they are well aware of their problems. On 10 June in the course of public hearings at the Aarhus Center in Ararat residents expressed their concern with the environmental situation in Ararat.... “There are many cancer diseases in Ararat Vallet, we have both a cement factory and a gold recovery factory…” “For example, I can’t find a place for my child to live in, as there are problems with health…”

July 11, 2011 at 12:07