WHETHER ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTRY CHANGED ITS POLICY ON MINING WASTES?

12:54 January 21, 2015

EcoLur

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan announced that
numerous tailing dumps have caused serious problems, which haven’t
been studied so far and haven’t been assessed properly.

Still in 2014 for the purpose of regulating the problem of tailing
dumps the Nature Protection Ministry initiated making amendments
to RA Law “On Environmental Fees” and setting environmental fees
for mining wastes 0 1.5-30 AMD for one ton of wastes, as RA Law
“On Environmental Fees” doesn’t set any fees for soil managers to
pay either for dumps or tails.

Nevertheless, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan
and Economy Minister Karen Tchshmarityan rejected the ministry
proposal.

“….the proposed amendment will lead to significant financial
expenditure for mining companies.”

Taking into consideration that the mined product is a stock exchange
product, the price of which is formed in the international market
and is characterized by its floating nature, the proposed amendment
will have an adversary effect on the investment environment, will
hinder the natural activities of the operating companies and the
attraction of new investors into the field,” says Economy Minister
Karen Tchshmarityan in his opinion.