ArmInfo. As for Amulsar (Amulsar gold deposit, ed. note), it is necessary to make a decision. This question cannot forever hang in the air, said the acting Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan on May 6 during a Facebook press conference at Radio Liberty.
In this case, acting Minister refused to answer the question whether he considers it right to restart the exploitation of the gold-bearing deposit. According to him, he is not familiar with the field and is not very well informed.
Note that in early February 2021, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the government intends to return to discussions of programs in the mining industry, including the problem of the Amulsar mine. But in this matter, a balanced approach will be needed, taking into account all aspects. "We will have to try as soon as possible to find ways of solving the existing problems," the head of the Armenian government said.
It should be reminded that the Amulsar gold deposit is the second largest deposit in Armenia. According to the company, the deposit contains about 73,733 kg of gold with an average grade of 0.78 g per tonne, as well as 294,367 tonnes of silver with an average grade of 9.29 g per ton. It is located in the southeast of the country, 13 km from the resort town of Jermuk, between the rivers Arpa and Vorotan.
Environmentalists and ordinary citizens are concerned that the operation of the mine may lead to the pollution of the mineral underground waters of Jermuk and Lake Sevan. Since the summer of 2018, activists have blocked the roads leading to the mine, thus preventing its operation. The Armenian government does not express a clear position on the problem and ways of its settlement. Although this is required by both sides of the confrontation.
