Stone shortage in Armenia - premier 

ArmInfo. The Armenian government is facing serious problems in the development of non-metallic deposits. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during the Mining Forum Armenia, which took place on October 3  in Tsaghkadzor.

This problem became evident, he said, during the implementation of  construction programs in the country's regions, including subvention  programs, when a shortage of stone reserves was encountered. "Despite  the fact that we call ourselves a country of stone at every  opportunity, it turns out that we import this stone to implement  subvention programs, which indicates serious problems," he said.

According to the prime minister, such difficulties arose due to a  lack of transparency in the industry, a lack of knowledge, relevant  competencies, etc.

He also noted that stone mining and processing not only has  significant economic potential but also cultural significance. The  head of the Armenian government recalled that 60% of buildings in our  country are constructed of tuff. "Despite this, we don't have a  single monument to tuff," he said. In this regard, the Prime Minister  announced plans to erect a monument to tuff in collaboration with the  Artik community, which would be a step toward revaluing our natural  resources.

At the same time, Pashinyan pointed to problems with sand mining for  the same reason. In this regard, he noted that the authorities are  determined to take decisive action to address the problem in this  industry due to the existing shadow.

The Prime Minister also noted that sand mining from the Araks River  is effectively reducing the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

It is worth noting that more than 250 representatives of government  agencies, the professional community, the private sector, and  investment companies are participating in the two-day Mining Forum  Armenia.  Leading experts from Armenia, Canada, the Netherlands,  Kazakhstan, Russia, the United States, Belarus, and the United Arab  Emirates will speak at the event, which features panel discussions,  keynote speeches, and interviews. Key discussion topics included:  "Mining as a New Energy Source: Investment Opportunities and Global  Economic Trends," "The Current State of Armenia's Mining Industry and  Future Prospects," "Sustainable Development in the Mining Sector and  Public Trends," and "Sustainable Development as a Result of  Technological Progress: The Role of Technology in the Mining Industry  and Beyond," among others. The forum was organized by the Union of  Miners and Metallurgists of Armenia, and the main sponsor of the  event was the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine.