Vahan Kerobyan: If nothing interferes, the activity of the Amulsar  mine will be resumed 

ArmInfo. If nothing interferes, the activity of the Amulsar gold mine will be resumed,  Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said in an interview with  RFE/RL's Armenian Service , referring to the department's program of  measures, which contains a provision on resolving the "Amulsar issue".

To the remark about the negative position of environmentalists and  residents of the communities adjacent to the mine, the minister noted  that in any process there will be both "supporters" and "opponents"  in any process. In this regard, he said that it is necessary to hold  another conversation with the residents in order to clarify the  situation.

"If all environmental standards are observed, an environmental impact  assessment (EIA) is received, then we are for Armenia to develop  economically with all its potential and power," the minister  stressed.

It should be reminded that the activity of the Lydian Armenia  company, which owns the Amulsar mine, was suspended in 2018 by the  new government of Armenia, which responded to the demands of a number  of environmental organizations and eco-activists concerned about  possible contamination of the unique water basin of the region, on  the territory of which the famous balneological resort of Jermuk is  located.  The Amulsar gold mine is the second largest in Armenia. The  mine is being developed by Lydian Armenia.  According to the company,  the mine contains about 73,733 kg of gold with an average grade of  0.78 g per ton, as well as 294,367 tons of silver with an average  grade of 9.29 g per ton. It is located in the south-east of the  country, 13 km from the resort town of Jermuk, in the interfluve of  the Arpa and Vorotan rivers.