CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS PLANS FOR URANIUM MINE IN ARMENIA

Asbarez
Dec 3rd, 2009

The mountains of Armenia’s southern region of Syunik.

GHAPAN, Armenia (Eurasianet)-A protest movement against a planned
Russian-Armenian uranium mine in southern Armenia appears to be
picking up steam, with discussions underway with three political
parties about a partnership.

The mine, a 50-50 joint venture between Armenia and Russia, will be
located in the mineral-rich region of Syunik, already the home to
two copper and molybdenum mining operations.

Soviet-era studies indicated that Armenia could contain up to
approximately 60,000 tons of uranium. With uranium prices at roughly
$97 per kilogram, that means the Syunik mine could create considerable
revenue for Armenian state coffers.

Yerevan plans to export the uranium to Russia, where it would be
enriched for nuclear fuel to be used in Armenia’s nuclear power plant.

Exploration work in the field is already underway. Deputy Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources Areg Galstian stated at a late October
conference on Armenian-Russian energy cooperation.

The Armenian-Russian Mining Company holds a five-year permit for
exploration of uranium ore in Syunik. Company data indicates that
exploration is taking place in southern and northern Syunik.

But local residents, including inhabitants of the nearby regional
capital, Kapan, and the mining town of Kajaran fear the consequences.

Expressing concern about chances for a spike in cancer rates and
genetic mutations once uranium mining starts, the head of the Greens’
Union of Armenia, Hakob Sanasarian, called the project "a disaster
for both the local and the national population."

The director of a local Karabakh War veterans’ rights group agreed.

"If they start mining uranium, we will fight using all possible
methods," Khoren Harutiunian declared. "We will even block the roads."

Discussions are being held with three prominent political parties
about an alliance to block the mine, Harutiunian said. He declined
to identify the parties involved in the discussions.

The anti-mine movement also plans to start a letter-writing campaign
to government officials this week; some 2,000 Kapan residents have
already joined the protest, they claim.

Geochemist Sergei Grigorian, a member of the National Academy
of Sciences who is overseeing the geological survey of the Syunik
uranium deposits for the Armenian-Russian Mining Company, called the
outcry misplaced.

"[T]his is … caused by some misunderstanding because what we do
now is safe," Grigorian said. "The mining work should be organized
so that they will not cause any environmental problems."

The Soviet-era figures about Armenia’s estimated uranium deposits
could be 10 times higher than what exists in reality – a situation
that could impact the Company’s plans for Syunik, he continued.

Nonetheless, he underlined, Armenia requires fuel for its nuclear
power plant and must secure its own supplies.

"[W]hat if we can no longer get uranium from Russia?" Grigorian asked.

"We need to have some culture of mining. … We cannot just sit
and starve."

If the project proceeds on schedule, work on the surface of the
mine site will start in 2010, and holes will be drilled to reach
the uranium ore deposits, he said. But environmentalists question
Grigorian’s assurances on the environment. "It’s up to an international
independent expert group to decide whether [the uranium mining] is safe
or not," affirmed Inga Zarafian, chairperson of the non-governmental
organization EcoLur.

Grigorian stresses that public discussions have been held to explain
to some 1,000 local community members how the mine will operate and
safety standards maintained.

The head of the Lernadzor community administration, however, contends
that public discussions are not enough. "How can I support such
activities if all this results in is people wanting to leave the
village?" asked Stepan Petrosian. "I don’t know even whether I should
finish building my house or not. Will my grandchildren ever live here?"

For now, that question remains unanswered, but the fear about the
mines hangs on. One activist pledged: "We will fight till the end."