The hydropower sector, on the one hand, and the mining industry, on the other, are putting a lot of pressure on Sisian enlarged community in Syunik Region, Armenia. If in the first case the hydropower structures operating in the community are depleting water resources, after 2020 the problem of security has become more acute due to the post-war realities.
Within the framework of "Social and Ecological Responsibility" project, project expert, PhD in Chemical Sciences Rosa Julhakyan presented the main social, ecological and economic problems in the community during meetings with local residents and local government representatives in Sisian town and Shaqi village.
During the project, "ASSESSMENT TOOL-MEASURE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION OF SISIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN SYUNIK REGION" was developed on the basis of the data collected on the social and ecological condition of Sisian enlarged community.
Socio-economic Situation in Sisian
Sisian enlarged community unites Sisian and Dastakert towns and Darbas, Shamb, Akhlatyan, Tanahat, Shaqi, Aghitu, Tasik, Shenatagh, Angeghakot, Ishkhanasar, Vorotnavan, Ashotavan, Ltsen, Salvard, Arevis, Lor, Vaghatin, Balaq, Hatsavan, Tolors,
Bnunis, Mutsq, Torunik, Brnakot, Nzhdeh, Tsghuni, Getatagh, Noravan, Uyts, and Shaghat villages.
The community with more than 30,000 inhabitants experiences a number of socio-economic problems: poverty, socially vulnerable families, high unemployment rates, low wages, poor irrigation networks, and the problem of selling agricultural products. According to the publication "Armenia's Social Picture - Poverty in 2019" the poverty rate in Sisian makes up 4.1%.
According to Sisian Employment Center, as of 2017, the number of registered unemployed in the urban areas of the community constituted 955 people, whereas the number of employed accounted for 3189 people. The number of beneficiary families in the community is 495.
Mining in Sisian
There are both metal and non-metal mines in the community. Dastakert copper-molybdenum mine is located in Dastakert, and Marjan gold-polymetallic mine in located in Arevis.
In 2020, RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure terminated the soil management right of Dastakert copper-molybdenum mine of "Molybdenum World" LLC. Whereas in 2021, RA Environment Ministry approved a request for the preliminary environmental impact assessment of Natural Resources Management CJSC for the reassessment of Dastakert copper-molybdenum mine reserves.
The dumps and open pits of the copper-molybdenum mine developed in the Soviet period, as well as the emergency-state tailing dump that pollute the environment, remain open in Dastakert. According to Environment Ministry’s studies carried out in 2019, AL Si, SI, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, n. As. Rb. Sr. Y. Zn. Nb. Mo are accumulated in the tailing dump. Th chemical elements and their compounds are available at.
In 2020, by the order of RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the soil management right of Marjan Mining Company towards Marjan Gold-Polymetallic Mine Company was terminated. The company was declared bankrupt.
The dumps and waste generated in the area of Marjan gold-polymetallic mineral field waste in 1959-1992 as a result of geoprospecting are still not reclaimed and pollute the environment.
Pollution Level of Rivers Flowing through Community
Pollution of water resources in Sisian is caused by both mining areas and settlements. "The water quality of the Vorotan River has turned into the 4th class from the 3rd class, the water quality of the Sisian River has turned into the 3rd and 4th class from the 2nd class. Due to the lack of a treatment plant, wastewater and industrial waste are discharged into the Vorotan River. The water flowing from Dastakert copper-molybdenum mine flows directly into the Kshkoshti River.
Dastakert emergency-state tailing dump pollutes the Ayri River. The heavy metals released from Marjan landfills and the toxic substances flow with the rainwater and fall into the Sisian River and its Salvard tributary, whereas their waters are used by Arevis inhabitants to irrigate their land areas. There is no centralized sewage treatment plant in Darbas either, the sewage is discharged to Loraget," Roza Julhakyan said.
Hydropower in Sisian
Hydropower is one of the priority branches of the economy in Syunik Region. We can find Vorotan hydro-complex here, where about 60% of the electricity in the republic's hydropower plants and around 15% of the entire electricity is produced. There are 17 SHPPs. For its uninterrupted operation, the hydropower complex uses large and strategic water resources in the region - about 85% of the water volume of Vorotan River and 6 reservoirs - Spandaryan, Shamb, Tatev, Tolors, Angeghakot, and one daily regulation reservoir.
These water canals, as well as the canals fed by the daily regulating reservoir of "Tatev" HPP (Vorotan main canal) and Qarahunj reservoir, the rivers and their tributaries are used by the locals for agricultural purposes. In parallel with the development of the economy due to the overexploitation of the mentioned water sources, the large communities of Goris and Sisian areas are regularly faced with the problem of lack of irrigation water.
There is a shortage of water in the region during the irrigation season, which is due to the general wear and tear of the irrigation network, as well as the non-observance of water restrictions for other water users, particularly the Vorotan hydropower complex and small hydropower plants.
Opportunities of Sisian Development
In addition to all the above issues, Sisian has opportunities for community development.
One of the possible preconditions for the development of the community is the receipt of financial support from the companies operating there for the implementation of targeted programs and the inclusion of socio-corporate responsibilities in their contracts by those companies.
Policies need to be developed so that businesses operating in the community can contribute to the socio-economic development of the community.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by the NGOs involved in "Social-Ecological Consortium” - “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support” NGO and project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
March 07, 2022 at 16:55