Minister of Nature of Armenia Restudies the Decision on Exploitation
of Tekhut Copper- Molybdenum Deposits

Arminfo
2007-03-25 16:12:00

The Ministry of Environment of Armenia, called "Armenian Copper
Project" (ACP) to restudy possibilities of mining at Tekhtut copper-
molybdenum deposits in Lori district of Armenia, Simon Papyan, Deputy
Minister of Environment, told ArmInfo correspondent.

He said that surveys conducted by geologists 15-20 years ago ban any
possibilities for mining in Tekhut deposits saying that only the
excavations would be economically reimbursed. "As per the new
technologies – the mining would be less harm the environment.
Anyways, the Ministry of Environment is interested in causing less
harm to the environment when exploiting the Tekhut deposits," the
Deputy-Minister pointed out. He added that the preliminary assessment
of ecology expertise claims that the Tekhut exploitation project be
thoroughly reviewed. The Interministerial Commission will study all
miscalculations present in the project. The Commission will report on
it to the executive power of Armenia.

Note: The project was ordered by ACP. The company has a license for
25-years exploitation of Tekhut deposits. Under it, the
copper-molybdenum ore is to be extracted for 8 years. It was planned
to cut down 25 thnd cubic meter of wood and destroy the unstudied yet
archeological monuments. In the result of setting up the mines, 10
species of reptiles, 29 species of square mates where 11 are entered
into the International Red Book, 191 species of plants where 9 are
also entered into the Red Book – among them 2 grow only on the
territory of Tekhut woods. Exploitation of mines will lead to
migration of 59 species of birds, 55 species of mammals where 21 are
entered into the Red Book.