We must not repeat the mistakes we made 25-30 years ago: director of Geology Institute

Amulsar project, including the evaluation of its impact on the environment have been done by Lydian Armenia on the unprecedented high level, director of Geology Institute of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Khachatur Meliksetyan said, speaking to Aysor.am.

He stressed that all the mining companies, starting with small ones and ending with giants like  Lydian Armenia and Kajaran copper-molybdenum plant must work in accordance with the Armenia’s nature protection legislation.

- Mr Meliksetyan, the government has allocated 390,000 USD from the budget to involve an international leading company for expertise, in its turn Lydian Armenia stated about the arbitration process. Will you comment on the situation over Amulsar mine?

- I unequivocally welcome the independent expertise of Amulsar gold mine. Moreover, still two years ago I offered to conduct independent environmental expertise to exclude all the possible violations. I hope, Elard Group will manage to solve the issue at the proper professional level.

As to Amulsar, it it is necessary to single out that the project, including the evaluation of its impact on the environment have been done by Lydian Armenia on the unprecedented high level. Of course, there may be some questions among the people, distrust but the expertise or the audit must be on professional, scientific level and not on emotions, speculations.

It is also necessary for all the mining companies starting from small ones and ending with giants like Lydian Armenia and Kajaran copper-molybdenum plant work in accordance with Armenia’s environmental legislation. And this refers to all the phases of their activities.

- What impact all it may have on Armenia’s economy?

- Of course the investments Lydian Armenia company managed to attract are of big significance for Armenia’s economy. All those not indifferent toward Armenia’s fate are attentively following the developments over Amulsar. Being a geologist I have what to say both for and against the Amulsar project. But one thing is obvious, we must not repeat the mistakes we made 25-30 years ago when with our own hands we completely ruined Armenia’s industry and in essence rolled into Stone Age.

That time we were stated at rallies that Nairit and ANPP were built to destroy our genetic fund. And how did it all end? Unemployment, lack of money, bread, electricity. We were cutting trees, burning wood stoves to live somehow. Has anyone tried to evaluate the impact of stresses, hunger, cold, smoke on our genetic fund? Today we must at least avoid to repeat the mistakes of our past. I repeat all the issues must be settled in accordance with legislation and the debates pass and be discussed on the professional level.

- What issues do you personally see in the exploitation of the mine?

- Exploitation of any mine creates risks for environment but it is not about exploitation only. Armenia’s geological structure has given us big volume of mines of gold, molybdenum, copper, silver and other useful metals. But agreed with small territory of the country the issue on how many mines may be exploited simultaneously is under the authority of the country’s highest leadership which should possess all the information and make decision for the sake of Armenia and its people.

Only the fact that there are mines of copper, molybdenum and other metals irrespective of being exploited or not possesses risk of polluting the waters and lands with heavy metals especially in case when the mining bodies are on the surface.

In case of using contemporary exploitation technology it is possible to control and reduce risks. The control and monitoring of the state as well as the consciousness of the miners are very necessary.

On one hand we must not exaggerate the environmental issues and on the other we must not underestimate the risks. For Amulsar (and not only) it is necessary to conduct serious, independent, complex isotope-geochemical monitoring to be able to respond to the risks if they come forth and undertake necessary measures. This is the way that will allow us find and maintain the balance between the economic and environmental interests. This is the way dictated by the international experience.