By Emilio Luciano Cricchio
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with 1in.am news website that it is highly probable that the Amulsar gold mine will open.
“My attitude towards Amulsar has not changed. (…) There is a possibility that the mine will be opened, and we can say that the probability is high,” Pashinyan said.
This comes as many have criticized the Armenian government for not clearly outlining whether it is in favor or against the future opening of the gold mine.
The Armenian PM stipulated that due to the war, the flow of tourists into the country ceased, which along with currency problems caused significant economic hardship.
He went on to say that the mining industry is one of the economic sectors that guarantees cash and currency flows into Armenia.
Despite this, many protesters, environmental activists and residents of Jermuk, the town closest to the mine, have been blockading the entrances of the mine for over two years, stating that the mine’s operation will cause significant environmental consequences, including the possible polluting of local water supplies.
Meanwhile, Lydian International, the company running the mine, has been arguing that the protest blockade is illegal.