Armenian protesters demand closure of Amulsar gold mine

Environmental activists organized a protest in Yerevan on October 19, demanding the closure of the Amulsar gold mine and a new environmental impact assessment. The demonstration took place near a COP17 venue as the biodiversity conference commenced.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan approved the reopening of the mine in 2024, just one week before the start of COP17. Located in the Vayots Dzor province near Jermuk, the Amulsar mine has been a point of contention since construction began in 2016. While work was halted in 2018 due to local blockades, the project was greenlit following a government-ordered assessment by Earth Link & Advanced Resources Development (ELARD).

Activists express concern that cyanide used in the gold extraction process could contaminate the Arpa and Vorotan rivers, potentially impacting Lake Sevan, Armenia’s largest freshwater reserve. The mine is operated by Lydian Armenia, a subsidiary of Jersey-registered Lydian International. The company maintains that it follows international standards for environmental management and social responsibility.