A1+ // SEVAN TO TURN INTO A “GOLDEN” LAKE?
Lake Sevan is in danger again. The gold-extracting “GeoProMining” company- owner of the Ararat Gold Extraction Company and the Sotk gold mine exploitation concession- plans on moving the gold production unit from Ararat to Sotk.
According to ecologists, the cyanide technologies of gold extraction and joining of chemical substances will increase the risks for the lake. Besides that, the wastes such as poisonous metals and elements that gather in the granary will remain that way for millions of years.
Ecologists consider that as a violation of the law and predict that in a couple of years it will be impossible to prevent the outflow of dust that spreads to Lake Sevan through scraps and winds.
“Sevan is in danger because the interests of gold extractors are high,” said ecologists today during a round-table discussion on “Risks for Sevan from gold mining” in the UN Office of Armenia.
In the beginning of the discussion, participants watched a film entitled “Golden mine for Sevan” about the consequences of a transaction of gold mines in Ararat and Vardenis.
Head of the National Committee of the UN Environmental Protection Program, president of the “For Stable Development” Association Karine Danielyan said that the issue must be perceived in the context of development of the country.
“It is time to think about what course we are going to take,” said Danielyan. Professor of the Armenian-Russian University Gagik Sukhudyan said that the pollution of Sevan’s basin is a violation of the law and the issue must be raised in the European Court.
“I have come to the conclusion that we must allocate peacekeeping forces between our administration and Mother Nature,” said Sukhudyan.
Let us recall that former owner of the Indian gold-extracting factory “Vedanta Resources” had the desire to move the production unit from Ararat to Sotk back in 2005. The Armenian administration denied the proposal, but temporarily. Only in May this year did it become clear that the new owner of the factory-“GeoProMining”-has restarted the work of the factory and is getting ready to draft a complete plan with an evaluation of the influence on the environment.
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One of the most famous pearls of Armenia is Lake Sevan. It is the one the most visited places by Armenians in Armenia. Not only because there is no access to see in Armenia, but because it is incredibly beautiful and once you visit it, you want to return and admire its beauty over and over again.
Like almost all places in Armenia, Sevan is also a bearer of Armenian culture. Sevanavank is a monastery located near the lake on a peninsula. It was founded in 874 by Princess Miriam, the daughter of the king Ashot I. To reach the monastery, one has to walk up the stairs for almost 10 minutes by feet. But when you reach the top, the monastery, you never regret finding yourself there. From the monastery the lake Sevan becomes even more beautiful. The panorama is admiring.