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ENVIRONMENTALISTS WARN OF SEVAN LAKE CONTAMINATION
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
24.12.10
Armenian environmentalists are demanding that the Ministry of Nature
Protection of Armenia ban Gegamet Plus mining company from working
in the Lake Sevan basin.
Two years ago, Gegamet Plus obtained the mine in auction and submitted
a project for crushing and sorting dunite-periodite raw materials from
Shorzha Mine to the 'Environmental Expertise' state-run not-for-profit
organization of the Ministry of Nature Protection. The project on
processing was refused, because such activity is banned at Sevan
basin. (Article 10 of the Law 'On Lake Sevan' bans location of ore
processing enterprises in Sevan basin.)
Recently the company again submitted the project, and according to
EcoLur, the purpose of the project is the same and the mining company
changed its profile of activity from "processing" into "crushing
and sorting".
Despite the refusal, the Gegamet Plus' started exploiting of the mine
illegally. On December 1, public hearings on the realization of the
project were held in Shorzha.
According to a statement released by EcoLur, chromium concentrate
threatens Lake Sevan water basin, because chrome is a highly toxic
element. As a result of the production held there, chromium dust
covers Sevan basin, and is spread by wind onto the surface of the
lake. It is accumulated in the ecosystem elements, breaking the vital
cycles of those elements. The exploitation of the mine destroys the
landscape of Lake Sevan, environmentalists charge.
"We encourage the Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia to recognize
the public hearings null and void and to conduct an urgent examination
of Gegamet Plus Company by the State Environmental Inspection and to
stop the illegal operation in Sevan basin," the EcoLur statement reads.
"EcoLur" Informational NGO was joined by "Bird Lovers Center" NGO,
"Burg" Environmental Youth NGO, "Armenia women for health and health
environment" NGO, "Ecomos" NGO, "Association for Sustainable Human
development" NGO, "Eco-club "Tapan" NGO, "Ecodar" NGO.
From: A. Papazian
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
24.12.10
Armenian environmentalists are demanding that the Ministry of Nature
Protection of Armenia ban Gegamet Plus mining company from working
in the Lake Sevan basin.
Two years ago, Gegamet Plus obtained the mine in auction and submitted
a project for crushing and sorting dunite-periodite raw materials from
Shorzha Mine to the 'Environmental Expertise' state-run not-for-profit
organization of the Ministry of Nature Protection. The project on
processing was refused, because such activity is banned at Sevan
basin. (Article 10 of the Law 'On Lake Sevan' bans location of ore
processing enterprises in Sevan basin.)
Recently the company again submitted the project, and according to
EcoLur, the purpose of the project is the same and the mining company
changed its profile of activity from "processing" into "crushing
and sorting".
Despite the refusal, the Gegamet Plus' started exploiting of the mine
illegally. On December 1, public hearings on the realization of the
project were held in Shorzha.
According to a statement released by EcoLur, chromium concentrate
threatens Lake Sevan water basin, because chrome is a highly toxic
element. As a result of the production held there, chromium dust
covers Sevan basin, and is spread by wind onto the surface of the
lake. It is accumulated in the ecosystem elements, breaking the vital
cycles of those elements. The exploitation of the mine destroys the
landscape of Lake Sevan, environmentalists charge.
"We encourage the Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia to recognize
the public hearings null and void and to conduct an urgent examination
of Gegamet Plus Company by the State Environmental Inspection and to
stop the illegal operation in Sevan basin," the EcoLur statement reads.
"EcoLur" Informational NGO was joined by "Bird Lovers Center" NGO,
"Burg" Environmental Youth NGO, "Armenia women for health and health
environment" NGO, "Ecomos" NGO, "Association for Sustainable Human
development" NGO, "Eco-club "Tapan" NGO, "Ecodar" NGO.
From: A. Papazian