Armenia eyes relocating metallurgical plant in Arazdayan But keeps polluting environment

Unnamed Armenian sources have told local media that the metallurgical plant under construction in Arazdayan may be relocated in the near future.

“Armenia relocates the plant but does not give up eco-terrorism. The reason for the relocation was given as alleged ‘shelling’ by Azerbaijan,” the sources said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The site adjacent to the town of Ararat is considered as the most probable option. The management of the plant refused to comment on the information in a conversation with the media, neither refuting nor confirming it. Previously, the director of GTB Holding, which owns the enterprise, denied such an option.

Azerbaijani state authorities and NGOs have repeatedly stated that the establishment of this large metallurgical plant is a gross violation of internationally recognised standards and principles, in particular those formulated in the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention).

Dozens of international non-governmental and environmental organisations have also opposed the construction of the steel plant in Arazdayan.

Previously, the Azerbaijani government demanded that Armenia suspend the construction of a large metallurgical plant in Arazdayan, bordering the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

Besides, Azerbaijani environmental activists sent an open letter to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, mentioning Armenian enterprises polluting the environment.

The letter stated that the degradation of the ecosystem as a result of ongoing mining operations is not only a threat to Armenia's environment, but also a significant threat to neighbouring countries, and demanded that Armenia immediately halt work in the mining industry, which threatens the region and the planet as a whole.

In addition, the letter pointed out that the construction of a new metallurgical plant in Arazdayan, which is being built against the requirements of environmental norms and international conventions, should also be stopped.

According to the letter, the potential impacts of toxic chemical waste from this metallurgical plant on the local ecosystem could be enormous.

The discharge of waste into the Araz River means tragedy for the creatures living in the river and for the large farms that use the Araz water for irrigation. This impact on drinking water supplies can also lead to the spread of infectious diseases in border areas. This will create a serious public health crisis for both Azerbaijan and Armenia, the letter concluded.