Armenia’s mining waste poisoning cross-border rivers, warns environmental coalition

Environmental groups have raised concerns over Armenia’s mining activities, accusing the country of dumping waste containing heavy metals into transboundary rivers that flow through Azerbaijan. 

Thus, the coalition, Environmental Protection First (EPF), has called for international action, describing the pollution as “unacceptable,” Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The group has urged renewed attention to an interactive map they developed, which highlights the environmental damage caused by mining operations in Armenia.

According to reports, NGOs from Africa, environmental activists, and journalists have appealed to international organisations and environmental conventions to intervene. Concerns over the issue have been voiced not only by Azerbaijani civil society groups but also by organisations within Armenia itself.

Appeals have been sent to the UN’s Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (the Espoo Convention) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to address the environmental impact in the South Caucasus region.

Kabine Doumbia of the Malian NGO ASRAD stated that their mapping initiative clearly shows that waste with high concentrations of heavy metals from Armenia’s mining industry is being discharged into transboundary rivers.

“We urge international institutions to consider these serious environmental violations when assessing the transparency of Armenia’s extractive industry,” he said.

The coalition has also called for international experts, local and foreign NGOs to be granted access to Armenia’s mining sites to investigate environmental and operational practices.

“We request the secretariats of environmental protection conventions and other international organisations to facilitate this and remain open to further discussions,” Doumbia added.

Dare Akogun, an environmental journalist from Nigeria, stressed the need for Armenia to coordinate its mining activities with Azerbaijan.

“This appeal, supported by 29 NGOs from 13 countries, highlights how heavy metal waste from Armenia’s mining sector is polluting transboundary rivers that feed into the Kur and Araz rivers. The contamination of these key freshwater sources poses a major threat to biodiversity, soil quality, water safety, and human health in Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries,” he said.

Peter Owiti, head of the Kenyan NGO Wote Youth Development, warned that pollution was affecting not just surface waters but also underground water supplies.

“This issue has been raised multiple times by communities within Armenia itself, according to UN data on waste and environmental pollution,” Owiti said.

He argued that mining should be conducted with an awareness of its impact on local populations and accused Armenia of continuing operations in violation of international conventions.

“The map provides clear evidence of the extent of pollution. We therefore call on the Armenian government to halt mining activities, consult with both Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society groups, and work towards long-term solutions to prevent further contamination,” he added.

Joseph Silali of 350 Kenya and head of ABOS Climate News condemned Armenia’s mining pollution and urged the Espoo Convention and EITI to take action.

“We are concerned that industrial waste with high levels of heavy metals is being dumped into transboundary rivers. This must stop immediately,” he said.

Dr Uzodinma Adirieje from Nigeria also warned that mining in Armenia’s river basins was having a direct negative impact on neighbouring countries, including Azerbaijan.

“The severe chemical pollution of the Araz River, which is the largest freshwater source in the region, poses a significant threat to human populations, biodiversity, soil health, ecosystems, and the climate,” he said.

Adirieche stated that these actions violated international environmental standards, particularly those set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the Espoo Convention.

He called on all stakeholders to ensure that international experts, Azerbaijani and foreign NGOs, and other affected organisations are given access to Armenia’s mining sites for environmental monitoring.

“Most importantly, we call on Armenia to reach an agreement with Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries on the future of these mining activities,” he added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev