EcoLur
The residents of Geghi and Nor Astghaberd communities have hopes of employment with Voskedzor mining complex to be opened by “Geghi Gold” LLC in their area, as Geghi and Nor Astghaberd Community Heads Vasil Grigoryan and Surik Tevanyan said in their interview with EcoLur.
Geghi Community Head Vasil Grigoryan noted their community residents lost their jobs after the closedown of the copper and molybdenum mine owned by “LerX” LLC: so far they don’t even know why mine has been closed: “The equipment was operating normally, the water cleanliness was evident. They constructed a pipeline and before reaching it the main line, the plant closed down. People here need jobs, they are not interested in pollution, otherwise they live with difficulties,” Vasil Grigoryan said.
According to Nor Astghaberd Community Head Surik Tevanyan, the old equipment is being relocated to Qajaran.
In regard with opening the new mine he said, “Everybody is waiting for news about the plant to be constructed: in those communities, whether there is mining, development programs shall be advanced and more problem solution should be vested on them,” Surik Tevanyan said.
According to the EIA of Voskedzor mining complex submitted by “Geghi Gold” LLC, the area of the claimed territory is 280.8 ha.
It’s planned to take technical water for the open mine from the Geghi River, and the drinking water from Geghi village. Annually 45287.9 m3 technical water will be taken from the Geghi River for industrial purposes, while total water demand for mining has been estimated in the amount of 180188.1 m3/year both for technical and drinking water.
In this regard Vasil Grigoryan said that according to the information he has the river water will be filtered and taken to the plant via pumps, “Reservoir is filled for this purpose: there is a pump there, which operates for the combine. They say this water won’t flow back to the river, but it will flow back to the tailing dump. When fish was let out into the river, I didn’t worry, as I know the river won’t be polluted for the sake of the fish. The plant is also located far away from all drinking springs,” Geghi Community Head said.
Reclaiming of open mines in not planned.
August 17, 2016 at 14:17