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GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN ECOLOGISTS AGAINST TEGUT DEPOSIT EXPLOITATION
arminfo
Tuesday, February 22, 13:35
ArmInfo-BSP. Approximately 30 Georgian and Armenian non governmental
organizations demand from their governments to carry out corresponding
measures on protection of the population and environment from negative
impact of project "Tegut" on the territory of Armenia where local
company Armenian Copper Program extracts copper and molybdenum.
This fact is noted in the joint statements of NGOs of two countries
which was disseminated at the end of last week.
The question is about Tegut copper-molybdenum deposit which is situated
near the border with Georgia.
"The deposit's production wastes will increase greatly in Armenia to
180-200 mln cubic meters", the statement says.
According to data of Armenian Mass Media, as a result of extraction
the soil, air and water will be polluted, it will liquidate local bio
variety and the ecological system. Besides, as a result of felling
the risk of floods and landslides will increase.
"The biggest risk is connected with construction of the storage
which must protect the ecological system from great quantity of
toxic wastes. Experts say that toxic substances leakage will cause
irreversible damage not only to territories of Armenia and Georgia, but
wasters will pollute the near-border river Debed", the statement reads.
Georgian NGOs are concerned with the fact that during the project
elaboration trans-border influence of this production was not taken
into consideration.
"The project documentation of company Armenian Copper Program does not
envisage a plan of reaction to emergency situations, which in case
of breakdown will cause heavy consequences for the two countries'
population", the statement says.
Armenian and Georgian NGOs stress that in the process of granting a
permission the Armenian government violated completely its commitments
under Aarhus Convention.
The NGOs call on the government of Armenia to suspend implementation
of the project to research comprehensively impact on environment,
ensure discussion of this issue on the basis of international
practice. Besides, the non-governmental organizations call on the
governments of the two countries to begin consultations on this issue.
According to Armenian Mass Media, on November 1, 2007 the government of
Armenia approved Armenian Copper Program (ACP) of exploitation of Tegut
deposit in Lori district for 30-40 years. It is planned to extract
annually 25-30 thousand tons of copper and 800 tons of molybdenum
that will total 40-50% of total quantity of copper extraction and 20%
of molybdenum extraction in the republic. A license for the deposit
exploitation was granted for 25 years in 2001.
The deposit exploitation must begin in 2011. The project resulted in
negative response by most ecological public organizations.
From: A. Papazian
arminfo
Tuesday, February 22, 13:35
ArmInfo-BSP. Approximately 30 Georgian and Armenian non governmental
organizations demand from their governments to carry out corresponding
measures on protection of the population and environment from negative
impact of project "Tegut" on the territory of Armenia where local
company Armenian Copper Program extracts copper and molybdenum.
This fact is noted in the joint statements of NGOs of two countries
which was disseminated at the end of last week.
The question is about Tegut copper-molybdenum deposit which is situated
near the border with Georgia.
"The deposit's production wastes will increase greatly in Armenia to
180-200 mln cubic meters", the statement says.
According to data of Armenian Mass Media, as a result of extraction
the soil, air and water will be polluted, it will liquidate local bio
variety and the ecological system. Besides, as a result of felling
the risk of floods and landslides will increase.
"The biggest risk is connected with construction of the storage
which must protect the ecological system from great quantity of
toxic wastes. Experts say that toxic substances leakage will cause
irreversible damage not only to territories of Armenia and Georgia, but
wasters will pollute the near-border river Debed", the statement reads.
Georgian NGOs are concerned with the fact that during the project
elaboration trans-border influence of this production was not taken
into consideration.
"The project documentation of company Armenian Copper Program does not
envisage a plan of reaction to emergency situations, which in case
of breakdown will cause heavy consequences for the two countries'
population", the statement says.
Armenian and Georgian NGOs stress that in the process of granting a
permission the Armenian government violated completely its commitments
under Aarhus Convention.
The NGOs call on the government of Armenia to suspend implementation
of the project to research comprehensively impact on environment,
ensure discussion of this issue on the basis of international
practice. Besides, the non-governmental organizations call on the
governments of the two countries to begin consultations on this issue.
According to Armenian Mass Media, on November 1, 2007 the government of
Armenia approved Armenian Copper Program (ACP) of exploitation of Tegut
deposit in Lori district for 30-40 years. It is planned to extract
annually 25-30 thousand tons of copper and 800 tons of molybdenum
that will total 40-50% of total quantity of copper extraction and 20%
of molybdenum extraction in the republic. A license for the deposit
exploitation was granted for 25 years in 2001.
The deposit exploitation must begin in 2011. The project resulted in
negative response by most ecological public organizations.
From: A. Papazian