ARMENIAN NATURE PROTECTION MINISTER DISPROVES INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT ON CONSTRUCTION OF GOLD CONCENTRATING FACTORY AT THE LAKE OF SEVAN BASIN
ArmInfo
2009-03-27 15:43:00
Armenian Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan has disproved the
information about the project on construction of the gold concentrating
factory at the lake of Sevan basin by GeoProMining company.
He said at today’s press-conference that the company did not apply
to the ministry with a request to hold the state ecological expertise
and the construction project was not submitted to the ministry. ‘May
be the owners of the company want to build this factory, but this
contradicts legislation of the republic’, – he said and added if such
construction project is submitted to the ministry, it will ve revised
according to the order set by the law.
But according to the information of ‘Ekolur’ organization, a
document with 123 pages "Conceptual decisions of location of gold
concentration plant at the territory of Sotk mine taking into account
nature protection risks" under the name of GeoProMining company. It
estimates how the Sotk processing company affects environment. This
document is necessary for holding of the state nature protection
expertise. Moreover, Nature Protection Ministry consulted on this
project.
It is noteworthy that the talks about possible construction of a gold
concentrating plant in the area of the lake are held despite the Law
on Sevan banning any concentrating activity in the area of Sevan basin.
Ecologists have repeatedly expressed concern over possible amendments
to the Law to implement the project. Chairman of the Association
For Sustainable Development Karine Danielyan shares the concern of
ecologists. She says the statements on the necessity of amendments
were made yet last year when the parliament discussed the possible
increase of water releases from the lake.
Moreover, the coalition called the Law exhausted and the chairman of
the Water Resources Management Committee agreed with it. ‘The best
experts of Armenia in cooperation with international experts drafted
the Law On Sevan.
In addition, the Law was based on the Soviet experience. A big amount
of work has been carried out. This law must not be amended. It must
be executed’, K. Danielyan said.
Today ecologists are going to hold an action of protest in front of
the presidential residence against construction of a gold concentrating
plant in the area of Sevan basin by GeoProMining company.