Tukhmanuk mine again turns into an apple of discord between environmentalists and Global Gold Mining Company

• Friday, January 25, 22:25

 The Public Environmental Alliance and the Union of the Greens of Armenia have sent an open letter to Global Gold Mining Company Van Krikoryan demanding suspension of GGM's activity in Armenia unless the economic damage caused by exploitation of Tukhmanuk mine is assessed and recompensed.

The letter reads that Tukhmanuk mine is in the area of Aragatsotn region not far from the village of Melik. "Toxic waters from both the tailing dumps fall into the River of Getik and then into the Rivers of Kasakh, Hrazdan and Araz. So, exploitation of Tukhmanuk mine is dangerous not only for the village of Melik but also for the entire Ararat Valley. The tailing dumps contain heavy metals that penetrate into the agricultural products through the irrigation water. In addition, wind spreads waste through dust polluting pastures and agricultural lands," the authors of the letter say. They are
concerned also over the company's plans to build a third tailing dump.

For his part, Director of Global Gold Mining Armenia Ashot Poghosyan told ArmInfo that environmentalists make allegations against the company. He said that they are constantly monitoring the area of Tukhmanuk mine and the nearby areas with participation of independent experts. Speaking of the plans to build a third tailing dump, Poghosyan said that the given project is at the stage of examination so far. As it was reported, Global Gold Mining will come out with a special statement on the given letter. The copies of the open letter were addressed to  Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of Armenian
Assembly of America, US  Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern and ARFD Day Dat offices.

GGM is a subsidiary of Global Gold Corporation (GGC), an international gold mining, development, and exploration company with mining properties in Armenia and Chile. We are committed to building shareholder value and maintaining our social and environmental responsibilities. Global Gold, incorporated in 1980, is a public company traded on the OTCBB in the US under the symbol GBGD.  Based in Greenwich, Connecticut, Global Gold has offices in Yerevan, Armenia, and in Santiago, Chile.  Its largest shareholders include Firebird Management (which holds approximately 20%), and Management holds approximately 57%. In Armenia GGC has concentrated efforts on survey and recovery of gold at Tukhmanuk gold bearing mine in the central-northern part of the country, on exploration and boring at Marjan gold bearing mine in Syunik, in the south-west of Armenia.