By the orders of RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure (TAI) Suren Papikyan, the soil management rights of a number of companies with mining permits in Armenia were terminated, which are as follows:
1. Soil management right issued to Dastakert copper-molybdenum mine owned by "Molybdenum World" LLC, Syunik Region, Armenia, by order No. 1008-A dated on 29.07.2020;
2. Soil management right issued to Lusajur section of Meghradzor gold mine owned by "Paramount Gold Mining" LLC in Kotayk Region, Armenia, by order No. 1074-A dated on 07.08.2020;
3. Soil management right issued to “Vardan Zartonq" LLC to develop Sofi-Bina gold-polymetallic mine in Vayots Dzor Region, Armenia, by order No. 1075-A dated on 07.08.2020;
4. Soil management right issued to Marjan gold-polymetallic mine (central precincts) owned by "Marjan Mining Company" LLC in Syunik Region, Armenia by order No. 1078-A dated on 29.07.2020;
5. Soil management right issued to Tghkut section of Aygedzor copper-molybdenum mine owned by "Tatstone" LLC in Syunik Region, Armenia by order No. 149-A dated on 07.02.2020.
The following circumstances served as the basis for the orders:
• Since obtaining the mining permit, the companies have not yet carried out extraction works have not ensured reasonable and comprehensive soil management set out in RA Subsoil Code, Article 4(1(6)) of the Code.
• Failure to comply with the mineral extraction project requirements.
•They did not ensure the fulfillment of the contractual obligations set out in the soil management contract.
By the same orders, the mineral extraction permits, mining allotment certificate of the above-mentioned companies were revoked and the soil management contracts for the extraction of minerals were terminated.
Prior to these orders, RA TAI Ministry issued written warnings to the companies to eliminate the violations within 90 days. The companies did not eliminate the violations within the set timeframe. The Ministry has also initiated administrative proceedings on the termination of the soil management right against "Fortune Resources" LLC (Hrazdan Iron Mine, Kotayk Region, Armenia).
The companies have appealed the following orders on the termination of soil management rights: TAI Minister order 693-A dated on 13.12.2019 on the termination of soil management right SHATV-29/184 dated on 28.12.12 issued to “Mego Gold” LLC, Aragatsotn Region, for development of the central section of Tukhmanuk gold mine and order No. 711-A dated on 19.12.2019 on the termination of soil management right SHAT-29/514 on 24.12.2014 issued to the central section of Azatek gold-polymetallic mine owned by "Vayk Gold" LLC.
This material has been prepared within “Liability of Non-operating Mining Companies in EITI Process” project impletmened by EcoLur with the USAID support within the frames of “Engaged Citizenry for Responsible Governance” project implemented by Transparency International Anticorruption Center.
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
August 19, 2020 at 14:40