ArmInfo. The Armenian government at the regular meeting on August 24 approved the concept of development of the mining industry.
Vardan Gevorgyan, Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia, said that despite the fact that the mining industry is one of the important spheres of industry in Armenia, it does not yet have a clear policy and strategy that would allow carrying out specific actions with a view to solving the problems of the sphere and ensuring Its stable development.
According to the Deputy Minister, in order to ensure a stable development of the sphere, it is first of all necessary to develop a strategy. "Appropriate studies will be conducted on the basis of which a document will be prepared, where the directions for solving problems on the path of stable development of the sphere will be presented, as well as measures aimed at ensuring the reforms of the industry, indicating the expected results and financial assessment," said the representative of the Ministry of Energy of Armenia.
Earlier, ArmInfo informed that in order to promote sustainable development of the mining industry in Armenia, a concept for the development of the sphere was developed. The development of the document was carried out in accordance with the order of the Prime Minister of RA Karen Karapetyan. Shushanik Karopyan, the head of geology, methodology and analysis department of the Armenian Ministry of Energy, said that the conception of the main problems impeding the development of the mining industry is presented, a comprehensive policy in this area is presented, as well as existing gaps in the institutional field and omissions in the sphere of environmental management. In addition, the document regulates the problems related to the socio-economic situation, financial issues, lack of involvement of responsible investors, lack of state geological research. "As a priority, it is proposed to develop a strategy for the development of the mining industry, and it is expected that ministries that are relevant to this sphere, enterprises, international donors, risky communities and other stakeholders will be involved in this process," said Shushanik Keropyan. According to Kerobyan, the development of the strategy will require large-scale works that will cover strategic actions for the next 5-10 years.