EcoLur
“Environmental Expertise” SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry has issued a positive opinion to Arjut gold mining project submitted by “Baktek Eco” LLC. The opinion was issued on 8 October 2014. EcoLur learnt this information from “Environmental Expertise” SNCO.
Arjut gold mine is located in Lori Region in a distance of 12 km from Vanadzor Town, Arjut Village.
On 23 July the public hearings of Arjut open pitch mining project was held in Yerevan, where it was found out that the main environmental risks are not assessed in the project. It also turned out that the project hasn’t been submitted to “Hydrogeological Monitoring Center” SNCO. The project lacks complete data on the local flora and fauna. What about the flora it says the flora is very poor, while out of fauna it mentions only several species.
The project doesn't assess the risks for springs, moreover, when explosions will be conducted when developing the mine, which can harm water springs, as well as poison water with toxic substances. In general, besides mined elements - 3080.9 kg of gold, 17.64 tons of silver and 6821 tons of copper, it doesn’t say what other metals and elements these 2,323,700 tons of ore contain.
It’s noteworthy that Karine Movsisyan, an expert at 'Environmental Expertise' SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia, outlined the project is subject to supplementing and amending.
In reply to EcoLur’s question about new amended and supplemented project, Karine Movsisyan said that we can get the answer to our question only from the administration of 'Environmental Expertise' SNCO.
By the way, the director of the mining company is Azat Vardanyan, the same person who granted the title of “Doctor” to re-appointed Syunik Regional Head Surik Khachatryan (Liska).
October 20, 2014 at 12:04