No grounds to suspend the exploitation process of the Amulsar mine at this time - Minister
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YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Lydian Armenia has all the necessary permits to operate the Amulsar mine.
The Minister of Environment of the Republic of Armenia, Hakob Simidyan, stated during a press conference on Friday, summarizing the ministry's work for 2024. The minister noted that the Amulsar mine has undergone two expert examinations regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permit.
“All the permits required to operate the Amulsar mine are in place, and at the moment, there are no factual or legal grounds, either judicial or administrative, to suspend this process in any way. This is supported by the relevant studies and examinations,” the minister said.
Addressing the risks of operating the mine, Simidyan mentioned that natural risks always arise in cases of subsoil use. However, in the modern world, advanced tools and new technologies are available to help mitigate or neutralize the impact on the environment across various activities.
"If we consider that any type of activity might harm nature, we conduct an impact assessment. If the type of activity, its location, and other conditions are deemed permissible, we set conditions and require taxes to be paid so that we can implement subsidies to reduce the impact on the environment and human health," Simidyan explained.
The minister emphasized that if violations occur after the mine becomes operational, the government will naturally take appropriate measures.
Earlier, Armenia's Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan, stated that negotiations regarding financing for the operation of the Amulsar gold mine are ongoing. He noted that after the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) rejected the loan application for the Amulsar mine's operation, discussions are now being held with commercial banks operating in Armenia. Papoyan expressed hope that the mine's operation could begin in 2025.