After over a decade of controversy over environmental, labour, and economic concerns, the Armenian government has finally greenlit the operation of the Amulsar gold mine in Jermuk.

Since the project’s announcement, local communities in and around Jermuk have expressed concern about the mine’s potential impact on their lives and livelihoods, while environmental activists have warned about the catastrophic environmental effects the mines could have on the region.

This week, we spoke to Knar Khudoyan, a journalist who has been closely following the protests surrounding the mine, to Anna Shahnazaryan, an environmental activist who has been campaigning against the mine, and to Hovhannes Avetisyan, an economist and public policy analyst, about the viability of the project.

Read more:

• Armenia greenlights controversial Amulsar gold mine
• Anti-mining activists put New Armenia’s ‘people power’ to the test
• Rural communities in Armenia give mining companies the boot

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