ArmInfo. The administrative court upheld the Lydian Armenia lawsuit by the decision of the 2018 Department of Nature Protection and Subsoil Use of Armenia. The court notes that the previous actions of official Arthur Grigoryan, the former head of the environmental and soil inspection against the Amulsar project, are unlawful and cast doubt on his impartiality.
The court invalidated the decision of the Department of Nature Protection and Subsoil Use of Armenia, adopted in 2018, which de jure suspended work on the project. It is reported by Lydian International Limited.
In fact, the Administrative Court of Armenia concluded that the alleged environmental circumstances were not justified as a result of an independent examination. The court also noted that Arthur Grigoryan actively opposed the Amulsar program before taking up the post of head of the inspection, which could raise reasonable doubts about his impartiality. The court considers that in this case Arthur Grigoryan should not have participated in this work, which he did not do. The court upheld decision 30-A of August 27, 2007 on granting the company a license to develop the field.
Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Lydian Edward Sellers said in this connection: "We were confident that the court would establish that the allegations made by the former head of the inspection were unfounded and that the decision was unlawful. This court decision confirms that illegal attempts were made to intervene in Lidian's full right to carry out and operate the Amulsar project. It is regrettable that the illegal actions were actually committed with the participation of an official of the Government of the Republic of Armenia>. <In August 19, 2009, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly stated that the Armenian government had no legal grounds to ban the construction of the Amulsar mine, and that it was in the interests of the state to allow Lidian to further implement the program. The prime minister also called on law enforcement to unblock the roads and restore access for the company's employees to the field. Then the Prime Minister repeatedly made such statements, including during his visit to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly. But to this day, illegal roadblocks impede this opportunity>, the company said. The Prime Minister has also publicly stated several times that "competing mining companies" and others support the illegal blockade. Now it turns out that at least one of these supporters was even a member of the Armenian government.
In fact, the Armenian government allowed the continuation of the illegal blockade of the Amulsar project from June 2018 and is not able to comply with court decisions confirming the right of Lidian to begin work on Amulsar.
In a statement, the company asks when the prime minister revealed the names of those who block the work of companies and when will he take steps to restore the rule of law? "
Meanwhile, we note that on October 17, Minister of Environment of Armenia Eric Grigoryan spoke with reporters about the need for a new Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the Amulsar gold mine exploitation program. As the Minister noted, there are many facts that need additional verification, or at least clarifications in the framework of the criminal case being investigated by the Investigative Committee. As Grigoryan pointed out, despite the fact that on August 19 the head of the Investigative Committee, after submitting the expert opinion on the Amulsar project, said that at present there were grounds for ending the criminal case instituted under Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (Concealment or willful misrepresentation of information on environmental pollution), the case was not dismissed.
Lydian Armenia is a subsidiary of the British offshore company Lydian International, whose shares are listed on the Tonon Stock Exchange. The total cost of the Amulsar project is $ 370 million. The field's life is 10 years and 4 months, with an average of 200 thousand ounces of gold being mined annually. Amulsar field is the second largest reserves in Armenia. According to the company, the deposit contains about 73733 kg of gold with an average grade of 0.78 g per ton, and 294.367 tons of silver with an average grade of 9.29 g per ton. It is located in the south-east of the country, 13 km from the resort town of Jermuk, between the rivers Arpa and Vorotan. Environmentalists and ordinary citizens are concerned that the operation of the mine could lead to the pollution of the mineral underground waters of Jermuk and Lake Sevan.
ArmInfo. The problem of developing the Amulsar field is politicized. This was stated by the leader of the rock band System of a Down Serj Tankian at a press conference in Yerevan on October 9.
ArmInfo. A working group with the participation of experts will be set up at the Public Council of Armenia to study the development of the Amulsar mine. Based on the analysis of facts and the results of relevant studies submitted by all interested parties, the position of the Public Council regarding the development of the mine will be formed.
ArmInfo. 19 residents of Jermuk appealed to the court with a request to invalidate the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Amulsar project.
ArmInfo.The SOS Amulsar initiative posted a photograph on its Facebook page, which indicates the presence of large reserves of uranium at the Amulsar gold deposit. So, according to the record, the letter U of the yellow device indicates the presence of uranium in the measured material. The number "245" indicated opposite it indicates the density of uranium in one ton, in grams. Meanwhile, the norm should be 4 ", - noted in the record.
ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers it improper to demonize the mining industry. He stated this at a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community of New York, answering the question why the new government does not consider revising the legislation in this area so as not to face possible blackmail of mining investors in the future.
ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is concerned about orthodoxy in Amulsar's issue. He said this the day before, September 22, during a press conference in Los Angeles.
ArmInfo. Residents of the city of Jermuk and the village of Gndevaz from the early morning of September 20 have been holding protests against the exploitation of the Amulsar gold mine. Opponents of mine exploitation have been declared strikes in schools in the region, and it is planned to organize protests in Yerevan.
ArmInfo. In search of truth in the Amulsar gold mine, the Armenian government intends to go all the way. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyanl stated this at a press conference on September 16, answering the question of whether he thinks that 400 thousand dollars (this is exactly what the taxpayer cost the expertise - Ed. note) were wasted.