EcoLur
The World Bank has examined and assessed the potential of the mining in Armenia, which conditions the economic growth prospects in this field and was laid down in “Armenia Strategic Mineral Sector Sustainability Assessment” report presented on 8 July.
Around 100 policy makers and practitioners from the Government of Armenia, the private sector, universities, civil society groups, media and development partner representatives attended the launch of the Armenia Strategic Mineral Sector Sustainability Assessment, organized by the World Bank.
“In the last five years, Armenia’s mining exports have amounted to approximately USD $500 million annually, making it the country’s top sector in terms of export and inflow of foreign exchange. Mining companies are also significant job providers, especially in rural areas. In 2014, over 7,000 people were employed in the metallic mining sector, which is around 10 percent of those employed in the industrial branch of the economy,” said Laura Bailey, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia.
Kirsten Hund, Senior Mining Specialist at the World Bank, presented the main conclusion and proposals of the report: This sector is important for the economy of Armenia, but it’s also vulnerable, because it greatly depends on the benefits of large mines. There are also small mines, which almost don’t have income or the figures show it. There are geological data, but they are rather out-of-fate and new research is rather little,” Kirsten Hund said.
“There are numerous mines, which were prospected in the Soviet period and not closed down. It generated certain environmental risk and damage, while the government has no sufficient funds for the restoration of the mines.”
“Mining sector definitely has great potential for growth,” said David Harutyunyan, Head of Staff of Armenian Government.
When we speak about sustainability, first of all, we speak about economic growth, social and environmental responsibility. We should have a policy to establish a sustainable system built on joint vision - a vision shared by the authorities, civil society and business entities. In this regard, this report can serve as a proper basis to build reasonable and transparent mining field in future,” David Harutyunyan said.
June 08, 2016 at 18:39