New video about Amulsar
New video about Amulsar
Amulsar between a rock and a hard place
"Green Armenia" environmental-educational NGO, with the support of the Global Greengrants Fund, prepared a film "Amulsar between a rock and a hard place ". It presents the irresponsible policy of the Armenian government regarding the gold mining project in Amulsar.
…On February 22, 2023, the RA government signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with the Eurasian Development Bank operating with the Russian state capital and Lydian company, to resume the exploitation project of the Amulsar gold-bearing quartzite mine.
According to the memorandum, the Government should receive 12.5 percent of the company's shares. The EADB will invest $100 million as loan funds, and another $50 million will be provided by a local bank. To this day, the Company and the RA government keep the name of the local bank confidential.
Thus, the Armenian government disregarded the expert conclusion by ELARD-TRC for which it had paid 454 thousand USD dollars from the state budget in 2019.
The negative impact on water sources of Lake Sevan, Arpa and Vorotan catchment basins, Spandaryan and Kechut reservoirs, as well as underground waters were ignored, as well as long-term pollution of surface and underground waters due to acid drainage was neglected.
The risks associated with the radioactive elements present in the Amulsar mine, i.e. uranium, thorium, and radon, as well as the risk of environmental pollution with dust containing huge amount of toxic elements arising from the operation of the mine, were also ignored. The risks associated with the use of cyanide technology banned in a number of countries around the world were also ignored.
The possible negative impact on "Jermuk" mineral water, as well as the international obligations undertaken in the field of biodiversity protection within the Bern Convention were not taken into account.
Years long resistance of the public and the affected communities against the Amulsar project was not taken into account, as well as the decision of the Council of Elders of the Jermuk community and the petition of 3000 residents who expressed their opposition to metal mining in the area of Amulsar were ignored.