Tuesday, July 28 2020 16:11

ArmInfo.Yesterday a group of people illegally blocking the roads leading to the gold mine Amulsar, has raised another wave of noise and misinformation in line with the  lawlessness of the past two years. This is stated in the statement of  the "Lydian Armenia" company, which is building the mine.

According to the source, inventory work began at the construction  site of the Amulsar field last week. The work is carried out by the  company's specialists with the participation of Jermuk community  employees.  Notably, following the publication of alleged episodes of  thefts and vandalism in the area, the group blocking the Amulsar road  yesterday demonstrated more aggressive behavior, trying to get inside  and interfere with the inventory process. It is noteworthy that those  who committed illegal actions attributed all kinds of offenses to the  residents of the community, calling them "mercenaries". It is worth  noting, the statement says, that illegal attacks on residents of the  community engaged in legal work, occur regularly. It became possible  thanks to the two-year inaction of the law enforcement system, the  lack of law and order in this area. Yesterday's artificially inflated  incident was further proof that those who block the roads to the mine  do not represent the local community, they are doing everything to  create riots and clashes. "We can only assume that the noise raised  is associated with an inventory aimed at identifying illegal actions  and their possible results. This behavior is also the result of the  usual inaction of the police, when instead of protecting the  interests of hundreds of people who have the legal right to work in  their own community, the local police have demonstrated an  unprecedented tolerance for lawlessness.

This situation must be stopped. "Lydian" is ready to support all  citizens who want to legally work in their community, and law  enforcement agencies are obliged to ensure the unhindered  implementation of this right of Armenian citizens within the  framework of the law, "the statement says.

To recall, in May this year, 23 residents of settlements near the  Amulsar field, through an independent IPAM accountability mechanism,  appealed to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development  (EBRD) to withdraw from the Amulsar  project. The statement was  joined by the international network CEE  BankWatch, NGO "Ekolur", NGO  "Forest of Armenia", NGO "Green Armenia"  and the civic initiative  "Armenian Environmental Front".

In a statement, in particular, a call was made for IPAM to initiate   checks on compliance of the Amulsar program with the social and   environmental policy of EBRD. It is indicated that Lydian   International, with the help of the former Government of the Republic   of Armenia and the financial assistance of EBRD, did not apply the   best international standards in assessing the impact of the program,   as well as taking into account the opinions of adjacent communities.   In addition, during the implementation of the program, Lydian   International failed to properly protect the natural resources and  economy of Jermuk, as well as the health of the local population.

In this regard, the authors of the statement urge the EBRD to   withdraw from the Amulsar program, which, they said, will be a   crucial step in meeting the requirements of the social and   environmental policy approved by the bank. Among the requirements are  ensuring environmental and social impact assessments; resource   efficiency and pollution prevention; protecting the health of the   local population; biodiversity conservation and sustainable   management of natural resources; stakeholder engagement and restore  justice for the Jermuk population.

<We are confident that EBRD, being one of the largest financial   development institutions, will take into account our protest, examine   the problems we raised and make a decision in favor of the residents   of Jermuk, "the statement said. 

Lydian Armenia is a subsidiary of  the British offshore Lydian  International. 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 reserve 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. With this in mind, since  last year, entrances to the field were blocked by local residents.