In 2018, Lydian paid $ 920,883 to the communities adjacent to the  Amulsar project

ArmInfo. Despite the fact  that because of 6-month illegal blockade of roads to the Amulsar  deposit, the program has been actually suspended, Lydian continues to  pay properly to the community budgets the rent fees for land plots  used for infrastructure under the Amulsar project.

According to the press service of the company, in 2018 the company paid the equivalent  of $ 920,883, of which $ 403,701 were sent to Jermuk / Gndevaz, $  265,955 to Zaritap / Saravan, $ 251,227 to Gorayk. In total between  2008 and 2018 the company paid $ 5.1 million for land leases. "Lydian  remains committed to a transparent and accountable work style and by  the end of the year, according to tradition, publishes data on  payments made in the communities. These transfers are several times  higher than the state subsidies paid to these communities, " the  report reads.

According to the source, before the illegal blockade of roads, about  1,400 people were employed within the Amulsar project, of whom 428  were from nearby communities. Today, most of these people have become  unemployed.

Lydian contractors alone for 2017-2018 made procurement amounting to  more than $ 2.2 million, of which 75% was made in the Jermuk and  Gndevaz communities. Basically, funds were directed to fuel, hotel,  transport services, etc.

In total, since 2008, Lydian has invested $ 3.7 million in community  social development programs, as a result of which community  infrastructures, roads, irrigation and water supply systems,  educational institutions, etc. have been repaired and improved.  Agricultural innovative projects have been implemented, assistance  has been provided in the development of small enterprises in  communities, in which $ 130 thousand were invested.  To recall,  Lydian Armenia is a subsidiary of British Lydian International, whose  shareholders are also major international institutional investors  from the United States, Great Britain, and a number of European  countries, including the EBRD. The Amulsar project is the largest  industrial project in Armenia today for the development of the  Amulsar gold deposit with a total value of $ 370 million. In August  2016, the project for the construction and development of the deposit  was launched. Preparatory work has been going on since 2006. The life  of the Amulsar deposit will be 10 years and 4 months, with an average  of 200 thousand ounces of gold (about 10 million tons of ore) planned  annually. The stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Amulsar  deposit is the second largest reserve in Armenia.  To note, since  June 2018 the roads leading to the Amulsar field have been closed by  a group of people protesting against the mine development.