ARMENIA: CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS URANIUM MINE

Comment:  No to Uranium Mining!

Marianna Grigoryan: 12/01/09

A protest movement against a planned Russian-Armenian uranium mine in southern Armenia appears to be picking up steam, with discussions underway with three political parties about a partnership.

Soviet-era studies indicated that Armenia could contain up to approximately 60,000 tons of uranium.
Yerevan plans to export the uranium to Russia, where it would be enriched for nuclear fuel to be used in Armenia's nuclear power plant. Exploration work in the field is already underway. Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Areg Galstian stated at an late October conference on Armenian-Russian energy cooperation.

The Armenian-Russian Mining Company holds a five-year permit for exploration of uranium ore in Syunik. Company data indicates that exploration is taking place in southern and northern Syunik.

But local residents, including inhabitants of the nearby regional capital, Kapan, and the mining town of Kajaran fear the consequences.

Expressing concern about chances for a spike in cancer rates and genetic mutations once uranium mining starts, the head of the Greens' Union of Armenia, Hakob Sanasarian, called the project "a disaster for both the local and the national population."

The director of a local Karabakh War veterans' rights group agreed. "If they start mining uranium, we will fight using all possible methods," Khoren Harutiunian declared. "We will even block the roads."

Discussions are being held with three prominent political parties about an alliance to block the mine, Harutiunian said. He declined to identify the parties involved in the discussions.

The anti-mine movement also plans to start a letter-writing campaign to government officials this week; some 2,000 Kapan residents have already joined the protest, they claim.

Grigorian stresses that public discussions have been held to explain to some 1,000 local community members how the mine will operate and safety standards maintained.

The head of the Lernadzor community administration, however, contends that public discussions are not enough. "How can I support such activities if all this results in is people wanting to leave the village?" asked Stepan Petrosian. "I don't know even whether I should finish building my house or not. Will my grandchildren ever live here?"

For now, that question remains unanswered, but the fear about the mines hangs on.

Pledged activist Haroutiunian: "We will fight till the end."


Editor's Note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Yerevan.

Read more at:
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav120109.shtml