YEREVAN. – The report by ELARD, which conducted a comprehensive expertise study on the Amulsar gold mine case, states that the assessments are flawed, the relevant conclusions are unreliable, and it’s not possible to answer the question as to whether the overall operation of the mine can be considered safe. Yura Ivanyan, head of the Amulsar investigative team of Armenia, stated about this at a press conference on Monday.
When asked, “Environmentalists are raising a question that, after this, how do you claim that there is no issue?” Ivanyan responded as follows:
“The system of measures that need to prevent risks and the mitigation measures which Lydian [Armenia company] has foreseen have been assessed reasonable by experts are pushed to the foreground; and if these measures are implemented properly, then the environmental risks will be manageable. And if the environmental risks are manageable, it means there is no harm so that we once more measure to what extent the [environmental] damage is.”
Asked whether the Investigative Committee of Armenia had discussed the results of the examination with experts and why solely Lydian is included in the examination as an interested party, Ivanyan said as follows:
“The Investigative Committee has discussed and analyzed Lydian’s explanations, submitted justifications and arguments with other factual data obtained in the criminal case. As for Lydian being included as a party, the Criminal Procedure Code [of Armenia] considers it mandatory to include the interested party in the case. That is, we are dealing with the implementation of the positive right of the state, and the state must ensure all possible means so that the given party will have the opportunity to present its explanations, justifications.
“The state body— that is, the Investigative Committee—will conduct an investigation to determine whether or not there is a violation of the interests of citizens, the state, the society. The inclusion of a non-governmental organization, or a resident, as a party calls into question that in that case, what function the state body carries out.”
Head of the Amulsar investigative team concluded that the final assessment will be made by the body conducting the proceedings.
On August 14, the Investigative Committee of Armenia publicized the results of the comprehensive audit report which was commissioned to the Advanced Resources Development (ELARD) Lebanese consultancy firm, and regarding any likelihood of environmental risks from the exploitation of the Amulsar gold-bearing quartzite mine.
The results have showed that there are no paths for groundwater flow and transmission of pollution from the Amulsar Project area to the Jermuk thermal hot water springs, plus the impact on the Arpa, Darb and Vorotan rivers near the Amulsar area is uncertain because this impact is not quantifiable.
Also, the conclusion noted 16 points which, if maintained, will make the Amulsar mine-related environmental risks manageable.