OPERATION OF TEGHUT MINE WILL CAUSE SERIOUIS DAMAGE TO NATURE AND LOCAL POPULATION, ENVIRONMENTALISTS WARN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The operation of the Teghut mine of
strategical importance to Armenia will cause considerable damage both
to the local population and nature, the chairman of Burg NGO Arman
Vermishian said at the May 13 press conference.

According to him, the mine operation project contains unspecified
figures, while the scale of actual damage has been considerably
reduced. "Today Lori marz is endangered. In case of operation of this
mine as well, we will face a serious danger. Explosions to be made
during the operation will also cause panic in the local animal world,"
A. Vermishian said.

In his words, one of the project’s errors is that ACP company operating
the mine has assessed 1 square meter of the area at 38 drams only,
which gives an occasion for doubt. Besides, so far it is not clear
how many hectares of forest will be felled. A. Vermishian announced
that 3 ha of forest has already been cut down.