Saturday, October 5 2019 16:47

ArmInfo. A working group with  the participation of experts will be set up at the Public Council of  Armenia to study the development of the Amulsar mine. Based on the  analysis of facts and the results of relevant studies submitted by  all interested parties, the position of the Public Council regarding  the development of the mine will be formed.

It should be noted that Lydian Armenia is a subsidiary of the British  Lydian International. The life of the deposit will be 10 years and 4  months, with an average of 200 thousand ounces of gold planned to be  mined annually. Amulsar field is the second largest reserve in  Armenia. According to the company, the deposit contains about 73733  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.

The development of the field will increase the country's GDP by 1% -  4%, 1% of which will be a direct impact. Finished products, which  will be almost completely exported, will be about $ 250 million. As a  result, the impact on export growth is estimated at about 10%.   Nevertheless, local ecologists do not share the enthusiasm of the  government about the attractiveness of the mine exploitation plan.  The Amulsar mine is located in the valley of the Arpa and Vorotan  rivers, in the immediate vicinity of the spa town of Jermuk, famous  for its mineral springs, and not far from the largest freshwater lake  in the region, Sevan. Environmentalists fear that the exploitation of  the field, during which sodium cyanide will be used, could lead to  the oxidation of water in rivers. Contaminated waters will become  unsuitable for drinking and irrigation and may cause irreparable harm  to the mineral springs of Jermuk and the ecosystem of Sevan.