Armenian environmentalists make their case though protests

Following a protest-action staged in front of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Yerevan Office, representatives of Armenian environmental groups were received at the to make their case against a major copper mining project which will lead to the destruction of vast forest areas near Teghut village of the Lori region.

Valeriu Razlog, head of the EBRD Yerevan RO promised to consider the call presented by the environmentalists and come back at a later time.

According to the agreement signed in January 2009, Russian bank VTB will receive 10mln credit from the EBRD for funding of small and medium-sized enterprises in Armenia. It is known that VTB is planning to provide 250mln credit to the Armenian Copper Programme (ACP) for development of the Teghut copper-molybdenum mine. Environmental groups in Armenia claim, that through collaboration with the VTB, EBRD is indirectly supporting the destruction of the Teghut forest.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Armenia
• Teghut
• Forest
• Mining
• copper