NGO urges Armenian companies to disclose Environmental Impact Assessment documents

Due to the environmental damage and significant consequences of Armenia's mining industry, the Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition demands that those companies disclose their concealed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents to the public.

Advocating for safeguarding the environment in the South Caucasus region Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition has called upon the local and international companies engaged in Armenia’s mining sector to promptly publish the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents on their official websites or make public posts about the outcomes of the assessment, Report informs referring to EPF.

“Regrettably, these documents are still not available to the public. It is raising questions about the transparency of the activities in the mining industry of Armenia.

We call on the mining companies operating in Armenia to be open to communications with our coalition. Environmental Protection First (EPF) Coalition plans to reach out to the corporate headquarters of those companies to request a meeting with their leadership concerning the ecological pollution in our wider region. EPF emphasizes the need for accountability,” reads the report.

“Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals we appealed to the Armenian Prime Minister several months ago expressing our deep concerns regarding the serious ecological situation caused by the mining industry of Armenia, demanding the cessation of extraction immediately.

Noting that the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference – COP 29 will be held in the South Caucasus region, in Azerbaijan, Armenia should also be encouraged to be more vigilant about environmental protection.

We call upon on the Armenian civil society organizations and environmental activists to join our efforts in fostering a clean environment in the South Caucasus. After all, the population of Armenia is primarily affected by this environmental catastrophe. Let’s not forget that nature knows no borders and we all share one region.”

Armenia must ensure that both local and international companies engaged in Armenia’s mining industry make the full content of their EIA documents public and act responsibly for the sake of environmental justice.

The document was signed by Sabit Bagirov, Entrepreneurship and Market Economy Development Foundation, Parvana Valiyeva, "Saglamliga Khidmat" Public Union, Amin Mammadov, "Experts in the Field of Water Use" Public Union, Gamza Yusubova, “Environmental Education and Monitoring” Public Union.