Environmental activists: Pollution from Andrian gold mine threatens Arasbaran

A group of environmental activists in East Azerbaijan called on the head of the judiciary to investigate the contamination of the Andrian gold mine in Varzaghan. The contamination of this gold mine with cyanide compounds was declared a danger to the underground reserves and natural resources of Arasbaran.

A number of activists and environmental organizations in East Azerbaijan responded to the critical environmental pollution of the Andrian gold mine and the spread of this pollution in the Arasbaran region by publishing an open letter that was published by Iranian domestic news agencies on December 22, 2019, and stated that the continuation of this pollution will destroy the natural resources and underground reserves of the region.

Varzeghan is a mountainous region in East Azerbaijan Province with Sungun copper and gold mines. The Andrian gold mine covers an area of ​​120 hectares. Some information indicates that it has about 30 million tons of proven gold reserves with a grade of five percent.

In a letter, activists and environmental organizations expressed strong concerns about the “method” of exploiting this mine and using cyanide compounds. They said that if this method of gold extraction continues, the water and soil resources of the Arasbaran region will also be contaminated.

In this letter, unprincipled activity and the use of cyanide compounds in gold extraction are declared to be the most important reasons for the pollution of natural resources and the penetration of dangerous cyanide compounds into surface and subsurface waters and soil in the region.

Meanwhile, the student news website, quoting Hamid Ghasemi, Director General of Environmental Protection of East Azerbaijan, wrote about air pollution in the Varzaghan region that the General Department of Environmental Protection of East Azerbaijan has granted permission to the Andrian gold mine to operate, but this permission is valid as long as the activities of this mine do not cause any pollution.

Ghasemi also said: "The Andrian gold mine had failed to obtain an environmental assessment for several years, which is why the environment agency did not issue a permit for exploitation. However, after various intensive meetings at the Environment Agency, it was decided that continuous monitoring and supervision would be carried out at this mine."

The official added: "At various times, waste and underground wells in this mine are strictly controlled, and if contamination is reported, the mine will definitely be closed."

The organizers of the letter to the head of the judiciary said that they have informed the General Department of Environmental Protection of East Azerbaijan Province and the General Department of Crime Prevention of the Social Deputy of the Judiciary about the critical situation of this gold mine, but their investigations have remained "unproductive."

Cyanide, a threat to public health

Another concern of these environmental activists is the damage to the biodiversity of the pristine areas of Arasbaran and the threat to the public health and hygiene of the residents of this area. The combination of cyanide vapor with humid air causes air pollution in the area. At the same time, it is said that there is a history of poisoning of several employees and their hospitalization.

Illegal mining and the rumor of “handing over the mine to foreigners”

Environmental pollution in the Varzaghan region is a concern, even as some reports indicate that 70 percent of the Andrian gold mine shares have been transferred to a Georgian company. Officials have not yet confirmed or denied these reports.

"Illegal extraction" from the Andrian gold mine is another issue that IRNA addressed by publishing a report in 2018, and confirmed these illegal extractions, according to the governor of Varzaghan County.

Hassan Yahivi, the then governor of Varzaghan County, said that a number of people illegally and secretly entered the mine and extracted “gold dust and rocks.” According to him, Varzaghan County police have so far arrested several of these people and handed them over to the county’s judicial authorities.

Source: DW