Armenia Copper Programme, a division of the Vallex Group registered offshore in Liechtenstein, has begun operating a
controversial mining project in the village of Teghut. Preliminary
work began with the clearing of a portion of the pristine Teghut Forest
to create a massive tailing dump for toxic waste left after mineral processing.
The company is aggressively removing a mountain in order to reach underground
deposits of copper and molybdenum.
Teghut photo by Sara Anjargolian, 2012
Armenia has made mining a key part of its economic development strategy [see page 34] despite environmental,
economic, and social concerns. There are more than 400 active mines and 19 tailing dumps in Armenia, a small
country the size of Maryland.
Scientists have reported health risks in communities around mines scattered
throughout Armenia.
Human rights and environmental activists have also
protested violations of property rights and the loss of rare and endangered
ecosystems and biodiversity.
“Cases
brought in opposition to the operations in Armenian courts have been cursorily
and improperly dismissed on strictly procedural bases without proper
examination as to the substance of the claims. The Environmental Impact Assessment and public notice requirements are fatally flawed. The irreparable
damage already done to Teghut, and the yet greater damage that will be done to
the region if mining continues, demand immediate attention,” reads the letter.
The
letter requests the EIA in order to comply with domestic and international
laws, present an accurate analysis of the environmental impact, address the public
health impacts of the Teghut mining operations, take alternative development
options into consideration, and restore public faith and trust in government.
The
coalition received a response from Edgar Pirumyan, Ministry of Nature
Protection Chief of Staff, who said an EIA was completed within the scope of
the law.
“We
are disappointed with the perfunctory response through the Ministry of Nature
Protection whose primary mission is the protection of Armenia’s
environment,” notes ATP’s managing director Tom Garabedian. “In a recent visit
to California, the Prime Minister expressed his commitment to Armenia’s
environment. We hope that there is a willingness of the government to reexamine
Teghut and mining in Armenia
as a whole.”
The
letter was co-signed by Acopian Center for the Environment, Armenian American Health Professionals Organization, Armenian
American Medical Association, Armenian American Nurses Association, Armenian
American Pharmacists Association, Armenian Bar Association, Armenian
International Dental Association, Armenian Medical International Committee,
Axis of Justice (Serj Tankian), Civic Forum, haikProject, and World Wide Fund for Nature.