Operating an iron mine in Hrazdan just might damage the potable water supply to 12 local communities.

Not too far from the site of the planned mine are the Maqravan Springs. They are the source of drinking water for 4 urban and 8 rural communities in Kotayk Marz.

General Director of Armenian Water-Sewerage Company Patrick Loren told Hetq that ther utility has the right to extract 1,580 liters of water per second from water source.

Fortune Oil owns the mining rights in the area and has already taken samples for study.

Yesterday, during a press conference, I asked Armenia's Energy and Natural Resources Minister if he wasn't concerned about the potential environmental risks associated with the mine.

Minister Movsissyan assured me that any and all mining operations creating an environmental problem would not be allowed.