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Georgian And Armenian Ecologists Against Tegut Deposit Exploitation

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  • Georgian And Armenian Ecologists Against Tegut Deposit Exploitation

    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
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