Armenia's Environmental and Mining Inspection Body has officially suspended the operations of an asphalt-concrete production facility near Lake Sevan following an investigative report published by Hetq on August 28, 2026.

The enforcement action targets a company (Tsovagyugh Road Maintenance and Construction) that produces asphalt-concrete on the premises of Sani Land LLC. The suspension follows an investigative pipeline initially sparked by the Hetq exposure, which prompted state regulators to step in.

Inspection Confirms Illegal Toxic Pollutants

Acting on the public exposure, regulators conducted a comprehensive inspection from September 4 to 18. Measurements taken directly from the facility's stationary production units and raw material stockpiles revealed critical threats to the local ecosystem:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO): Measured levels drastically exceeded the legally permitted limits for atmospheric pollutant emissions from stationary sources.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂): High concentrations of this toxic gas were recorded. The inspection body noted that the company does not possess a maximum permissible emission permit to release any sulfur dioxide whatsoever.

Proximity to Lake Sevan Triggers Hard Crackdown

The facility is located just 1,560 meters from Lake Sevan—placing it squarely within the lake's immediate zone of ecological influence. Under Article 10, Part 2, Clause (a) of the Republic of Armenia Law "On Lake Sevan," discharging environmentally harmful emissions that exceed statutory limits inside this protected baseline is strictly illegal.

Legal Enforcement and Penalties

Invoking Article 29.1, Part 1, Clause 9 of the RA Law "On Environmental Oversight," the Head of the Gegharkunik Territorial Division signed the official order on October 2 to suspend all asphalt-concrete manufacturing at the site.

In addition to halting operations, the director of the company has been held administratively liable. To guarantee compliance and prevent any unauthorized resumption of work, the inspection body has transferred the case files to the Compulsory Enforcement Service of the Ministry of Justice for immediate, physical enforcement of the shutdown.