EcoLur
Qajaran copper and molybdenum ore mining volume expansion project will inevitably lead to problems with water. “Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine” CJSC (ZCMC) is going to make mining volumes 22 million tons annually. The amount of the water needed for the production is such volumes will annually make up 68.85 million cum.
It’s a fact that Voghji, Sakqar and Geghi rivers, which should supply water, already experience lack of water. The water is not sufficient even for the electricity production of SHPPs. The other problem connected with water is water pollution. The water rich in heavy metals and other toxic and chemical materials shall flow into the Sakqar River.
On 18 December at the public hearings held in Qajaran Town the ZCMC announced that the increase of the volumes is a necessity conditioned with market relations. If the volumes are not added, the ZCMC will lose its market.
It’s planned to mine 500-600 million tons of ore during 25 years. The mining of this ore will result in dumping 220-240 million cum tails into the Artsvanik tailing dump in upcoming 12 years. Currently the extent of the fullness of the Artsvanik tailing dump is around 300 million cum. To store such volume of tails the Artsvanik tailing dump will be expanded at the expense of the agricultural land areas of 5 communities in Syunik Region. It’s surprising that the community heads keep silence on the damage and mention only the money to be transferred by the ZCMC.
December 23, 2015 at 16:57