The Armenian-Azerbaijani war in 2020 has left its negative mark on the development of Vardenis Community in Gegharkunik Region, which has been enlarged since December 2021. A number of settlements in the community soon became bordered, which created problems for the villagers engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. It is not safe for people to cultivate grasslands targeted by the Azerbaijani armed forces or to graze cattle in pastures. Environmental pollution and the rapid development of solar energy due to mining are creating problems in the socio-economic life of Vardenis.
Within the framework of "Social and Ecological Responsibility" project, Roza Julhakyan, project expert, PhD in Chemical Sciences, presented a tool that can assess the socio-ecological condition of the community during her meeting with the residents and local government representatives in Sotq settlement in Vardenis Community in 2022.
The first part of the tool-measure presents a description of the social and ecological situation of Vardenis consolidated community, which can be read in detail at the following link: First part of " DEVELOPMENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION ASSESSMENT TOOL-MEASURE IN VARDENIS COMMUNITY, GEORGKUNIK REGION."
Socio-economic Situation in Vardenis
In addition to field work and animal husbandry, the locals have a very narrow range of job choices, some work in local government, some in private companies, and some in Sotq gold mine.
Unemployment, large number of migrant workers, declining incomes of villagers due to droughts and hail, lack of irrigation and drinking water in some settlements (80% of Mets Masrik community land areas are waterless), and lack of wholesale agricultural markets are the main obstacles to Vardenis development. On the other hand, the community does not make sufficient efforts to use the financial resources of the companies operating small hydropower plants, non-metallic mines and solar power plants operating in the administrative territory of the community.
Metallic and Non-metallic Companies Operating in Vardenis
"GeoProMining Gold" LLC in Sotq settlement of Vardenis consolidated community operates Sotq gold mine, and the gold mining plant in Ararat region produces Dore bars from the ore mined in Sotq mine containing silver and gold.
There are 6 companies operating non-metallic mines: "Gegamet Plus" CJSC, "Kapavor" LLC, "Agroservice" Vardenis Regional Union OJSC, "Vardenis Torf" OJSC, "Gegamet Plus" CJSC, "Vardenis Quarry Department" OJSC. These companies are engaged in the production of tuff, peat, rocks or pumice.
On the other hand, the solar energy sector is actively developing in the community. According to the licenses issued by RA Public Services Regulatory Commission, there are two solar stations being built in the administrative territory of Vardenis community, "Masrik-1" and "Masrik" as of October 1, 2021. The first construction license was received by "ERVV Masrik" CJSC. The plant will have a capacity of 55 MW, the annual output will be 147.45 million kWh. By the decision of the RA Government, 32.6591 ha of land was alienated on March 29, 2019 for the construction of the station.
The license of "Masrik" station belongs to "MODUL-SAN" LLC. The power of the plant will be 3,000 kW, the annual output will be 5.52 million kWh.
Environmental Pollution in Vardenis
Referring to the construction of large solar stations in the community, it should be noted that solar panels have a certain service life, which can range from 15-20 years. These panels then become waste, posing a serious risk to the environment. In particular, the panels contain harmful compounds, zinc, strontium elements, semiconductors. Meanwhile, there is no factory or organization for their restoration or use in Armenia.
In response to EcoLur's inquiry, RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure stated that there is no normative base in Armenia that will regulate the issues of use, storage and neutralization of decommissioned solar photovoltaic panels.
The other polluters in the community are mining companies. About 2 km away from Sotq settlement of Vardenis community is a closed mine (tailings dump), which arose as a result of technological enrichment of ore extracted from Sotq gold mine in 1955-1957. Sotq Experimental Dressing Plant was located here. In 2019 the examination of the tailings waste soil by Environment Ministry showed that Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Sb, W, Pb, Th elements and their compounds are accumulated there. Currently, the tailing dump is ownerless.
Atmospheric Air Quality of Community
The official website of "Hydrometeorological Monitoring Center" SNCO does not have data on community dust emissions. The same source states that Sotq mine operated by GeoProMining Gold LLC is a major source of dust emissions into Gegharkunik Region. Non-metallic mines are also a source of dust emissions.
Pollution Level of Rivers Flowing Through Community
The water quality of Masrik River above Verin Shorzha village was assessed as "good" (2nd grade), and at the mouth of the estuary as "bad" (5th grade) due to vanadium. The water quality of Sotq River above Sotq village of was assessed as "good" (2nd grade), in the estuary - "moderate" (3rd grade) due to nitrate ion, aluminium, vanadium, barium and lead. Sotq River is also polluted by the mining industry.
The bottom sediment of Gegharkunik, Masrik and Sotq rivers contains a whole bunch of heavy metals, the profile of which fully reflects the concentration of those metals in Sotq gold mine.
Soil Pollution Level
The official website of "Hydrometeorological Monitoring Center" SNCO does not have data on the pollution of the land areas of former Geghamasar community. In addition to the original mine, 1,047 hectares of land in Sotq village were provided to GeoProMining Gold for the development of Sotq mine development infrastructure. This area is also used for the disposal of waste rock and landfills, which naturally leads to soil pollution.
The research article entitled "Eco-geochemical condition of soil of rocks of near-sevan ophiolitic zone" fully confirms the fact that the soil around Soq mine is contaminated with heavy and toxic metals. The main contaminants detected are chromium, nickel, lead, copper-zinc, elements that have a mutagenic-oncogenic effect, i.e., are capable of causing monster birth and malignant diseases.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by the NGOs involved in "Social-Ecological Consortium” - “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support” NGO and project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
March 25, 2022 at 17:01