Residents Worried about Kashen Open Mine 19.04.2013
Armine Narinyan, aparaj.am
Is Kashen mine located in Nagorno Karabagh Republic already operating? The people living in sanitary zone have been moved into a temporary dwelling. They were promised to be given a new one. The project submitted “Vallex Group” Company was approved in June 2013. The company promised to invest 80 million USD in this project.
17 million tons of ore will be processed in the first 10 years with 1.6 million tons per year. This mine will be dealt by Base Metals Company, a part of Vallex Group Company. Base Metals Company will deal with the extraction and processing of ore from Drmbon copper-gold mine. Nearby you can find Vardadzor, Chankatagh, Nerqin Khoratagh, Tsaghkashen and Kusapat villages. Many people from Vardadzor village are displeased with this project, they are concerned that the open mine will influence on their health and cause damage to environment. “The young people leave village, those who received compensation move to Mardakert…” say villager A. A. The sanitary zone makes up 500 meters, which villagers assess as insufficient.
The authorities assure that Kashen mine development will bring large benefits and will promote the economic growth of the country.
