During a recent meeting held at the Aragatzotn Provincial Authority with the heads of communities located adjacent to mining operations, Armenian Minister of Nature Protection Aramayis Grigoryan said that responsible mining should be encouraged in Armenia.

The meeting, also attended by ministry branch representatives, focused on the issue of the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine and its tailings dams operated by Mego Gold LLC.

Hakob Mkrtchyan, mayor of the village of Melik, complained that the company hasn’t carried out its promises to financially assist the community and that workers are owed back wages.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, Grigoryan also toured the mine site and told the company representative that, “We welcome investments being made in our country and the prospects of increasing jobs. We support responsible manufacturing that leaves a minimum impact on the environment, and we will follow up to see that the company fulfills all its environmental and social obligations.”

At a public hearing held last month in Melik village covered by EcoLur, Mkrtchtyan had presented a list of demands to Mego Gold, including the installation of a potable water pipeline and the construction of an irrigation reservoir.

Then another Melik resident complained that the company had the community’s water shut off for forty days. Mego Gold Director Ashot Poghosyan replied that his company had a “gentleman’s agreement” with the village municipality.