Wednesday, August 12 2020 16:55

ArmInfo.The Armenian government will never take steps that could harm the citizens, country and  nature. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of  Armenia Alen Simonyan stated this to journalists on August 12,  speaking about the situation around the project for the development  of this mine.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker declined to voice his opinion on the  Amulsar issue, noting that he is outside of his powers and he does  not have comprehensive information.

The total cost of the Amulsar project is $ 370 million. The life of  the mine is 10 years and 4 months, with an average annual production  of 200 thousand ounces of gold planned. To note, Lydian Armenia is a  subsidiary of the British offshore Lydian International.  Environmentalists and ordinary citizens are concerned that the  development of the mine may lead to the pollution of the mineral  groundwater in Jermuk and Lake Sevan. In addition to the water basin,  the public is also concerned about the possible presence of uranium  manifestations at the deposit.

Last week, there were clashes near the Amulsar mine involving police  and green activists who oppose the development of the mine. The  situation escalated after the Lydian Armenia security organization,  the "Special Security Service", dismantled the cabins of the  activists near the mine and installed their own.  During the clashes,  over 10 activists were detained, as well as four employees of a  security organization suspected of hooliganism. Subsequently,  mayor  of Jermuk, Vardan Hovhannisyan, stated that the company did not have  a permit for construction work in this territory, and therefore the  Lydian Armenia's cabins were dismantled and moved to another  location.