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TOTAL COST OF ARMENIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES IS ABOUT $120 BILLION, WORLD BANK EXPERT
YEREVAN, June 4. / ARKA /. Armenia's ministry of nature protection
estimates the total cost of all natural resources of the country
to be about $120 billion, without drinking water reserves, which
are estimated to cost approximately $9 billion, according to Esma
Kreso, a World Bank environmental specialist, who spoke today at the
presentation of two papers - "Sustainable and Strategic Decision Making
in Mining" seeking to inform Armenia's policy dialogue on environmental
and social issues in the mining sector and "Enhancing Environmental and
Social Sustainability of Mining in Armenia" seeking to mainstream and
enhance the understanding of environmental and social sustainability
principles in the development of Armenia's mining sector.
She said these figures are very important because Armenia trades its
mining products at global markets.
She said out of 65 licenses awarded for operation of mines 56 are
for metal deposits and 5 for extraction of precious metals.
She also cited the data of the nature protection ministry that there
are 17 tailings occupying an area of 700 hectares, while according to
the ministry of emergency situations, the country has 19 tailings,
whose total area is 1,400 hectares. Overall, mining facilities in
Armenia occupy 8,275 hectares of land, she said.
She said the tailings pose a serious threat, because of leaks of
heavy metals in the water, which is dangerous for the health of people
living nearby and the environment, including communities located at
the mouths of rivers.
She said mining companies operating in Armenia do not follow the
best international practice in dealing with such problems. She said
the government must demand that they comply with strict criteria for
nature protection.
Adrana Damianova, a World Bank specialist, told reporters that the
papers were prepared in collaboration with the ministries of nature
protection and energy and natural resources. They will be finalized
and submitted to these ministries.
She said after a meeting with nature protection minister the impression
is that Armenian agencies are interested in these papers being willing
to subsequently implement them.
She said the work on these papers began under the previous government
and expressed hope that cooperation with new government would be as
effective. -0-
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/total_cost_of_armenia_s_natural_resources_is_about _120_billion_world_bank_expert/#sthash.TtdtvwLn.dpuf
YEREVAN, June 4. / ARKA /. Armenia's ministry of nature protection
estimates the total cost of all natural resources of the country
to be about $120 billion, without drinking water reserves, which
are estimated to cost approximately $9 billion, according to Esma
Kreso, a World Bank environmental specialist, who spoke today at the
presentation of two papers - "Sustainable and Strategic Decision Making
in Mining" seeking to inform Armenia's policy dialogue on environmental
and social issues in the mining sector and "Enhancing Environmental and
Social Sustainability of Mining in Armenia" seeking to mainstream and
enhance the understanding of environmental and social sustainability
principles in the development of Armenia's mining sector.
She said these figures are very important because Armenia trades its
mining products at global markets.
She said out of 65 licenses awarded for operation of mines 56 are
for metal deposits and 5 for extraction of precious metals.
She also cited the data of the nature protection ministry that there
are 17 tailings occupying an area of 700 hectares, while according to
the ministry of emergency situations, the country has 19 tailings,
whose total area is 1,400 hectares. Overall, mining facilities in
Armenia occupy 8,275 hectares of land, she said.
She said the tailings pose a serious threat, because of leaks of
heavy metals in the water, which is dangerous for the health of people
living nearby and the environment, including communities located at
the mouths of rivers.
She said mining companies operating in Armenia do not follow the
best international practice in dealing with such problems. She said
the government must demand that they comply with strict criteria for
nature protection.
Adrana Damianova, a World Bank specialist, told reporters that the
papers were prepared in collaboration with the ministries of nature
protection and energy and natural resources. They will be finalized
and submitted to these ministries.
She said after a meeting with nature protection minister the impression
is that Armenian agencies are interested in these papers being willing
to subsequently implement them.
She said the work on these papers began under the previous government
and expressed hope that cooperation with new government would be as
effective. -0-
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/total_cost_of_armenia_s_natural_resources_is_about _120_billion_world_bank_expert/#sthash.TtdtvwLn.dpuf