Arminfo
2007-02-16 23:03:00

ARMENIA’S ECOLOGY EXPERTISE REJECTED ALAVERY CITY GENERAL PLAN

The general plan of Alaverdi – the most polluted city of Armenia, was
presented for ecology expertise today. However, Minister of
Environment Vardan Aivazyan has rejected the plan as the city’s
20-years’ development scheme did not mention any environment
protecting points.

The Minister proposed to study another plan where factories and
enterprises would have environment protection obligations,
i.e. present income reports and pay taxes accordingly – to maintain
environment protection activities.

"Armenian Copper Project" (ACP) owns Alavedy’s metallurgic factory
whose sulfur dioxide pollution of air 15 times exceeds the
environmental standards. In 2006, the factory released 22 t of toxic
elements into the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide’s reaction with water
produces sulfuric acid. The company is liable for big fines and taxes.

"It is possible that we would close the factory despite the fact that
650 people would become jobless," V. Aivazyan stressed. The factory
failed to decrease air pollution within the last years. "Now, the
company is to pay 120 mln AMD for exceeding the polluting
standards. In 3 years, if pollution volume is not decreased, the
company will pay 1 bln 200 mln AMD," he said and added that the
company will go bankrupt if it pays this sum.