Tailings Dam Fails at Toukhmanuk, Global Gold Corp. Mine in Armenia

You can read all Securities and Exchange disclosures filed by Global Gold Corp's (otcqb: GBGD) but you will find no mention that the tailings dams of the TOUKHMANUK MINE have multiple breaches. The only disclosure made by GBGD is that there mining operations are suspended until the approval and building of an new tailings dam. On SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 at a PUBLIC HEARING held at the MELIQ village, where the TOUKHMANUK MINE is located, environmental engineers confirmed that GBGD has illegally (without documents) built a new tailings dam because of breaches at the 2 older dams. This information was published by UNECE sponsored AARHUS Centers of Armenia

Tense atmosphere in the municipality of Melikgyugh

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12.09.2015 On September 9, public debates were held on preliminary environmental impact assessment of the application on upgrading of Tukhmanuk gold mining complex, tailings dump’s protective fence and tailings temporary dry storage draft submitted by “MEGO Gold” CJSC at the village municipality of Melikgyugh of Aragatsotn region of the RA. Participants were K. Movsisyan, chief specialist of the “Environmental Expertise” SNCO, T. Baghdasaryan, “Mego Gold” LLC’s administrative deputy director, the company’s designers V. Tevosyan and H. Nikoghosyan, H. Poghosyan, the NA expert, H. Mkrtchyan, head of Melikgyugh community, representatives of the H. the Ombudsman’s office, community residents, coordinator of Aparan Aarhus Centre, leaders of “Environmental Public Alliance” and “Greens Union” NGOs, journalists of Shant TV and “Ecolur” environmental-informational NGO.V. Tevosyan, author of the project, director of “Konsekoard” CJSC presented a part of the draft which was related to the plant upgrading and construction of the crushing plant. According to the speaker the operation of the device will include environmental risks associated with the spread of dust arising during crushing and emissions, but the installed absorbing devices will devour the emissions dust and not allow it to spread around.

About the next question on the existing tailings dumps stabilization and construction of tailings temporary storage facility spoke designer H. Nikoghosyan. He noted that currently the three tailings are in a poor condition, collapses of fence were occurred.

According to designer H. Nikoghosyan and K. Movsisyan, chief specialist of the “Environmental Expertise” SNCO the reason of the collapse was that previously was carried out raising of one of the tailings fence without draft documents, without an insulating layer and a protective screen. To improve the current emergency situation is necessary to combine the existing tailings dumps and build a common one.

H. Nikoghosyan said that for storing the old tails is monitored two options: the first is to build a temporary storage on 3 hectares, in a height of 3 meters or to build a new tailings dam and to transfer the old tails there.

It should be noted, that the community residents and environmentalists were repeatedly addressing questions demanding clarification to speakers. Many questions were left unanswered; the answers of some questions aroused the residents’ anger and frustration.

Both the environmentalists and the community residents expressed their concern about the violations committed by “Mego Gold” LLC, failing to comply with its obligations and damages caused to the village.

To the expert of Environmental expertise SNCO were presented several challenges which are the result of the operation of the mine, the enrichment plant and the tailings dumps. The discussion was very heated.

Some of environmentalists and local residents claimed that they are strongly opposed to the submitted project and the mine operation in general.

The links of videos of public debates of Shant TV and EcoLur are below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDJC4jiIC88 http://www.shanttv.com/ru/news/political/2015_09_09/17026/

Natalya Manukyan Coordinator of Aparan Aarhus Center Tel: (+374) 94 224926 E-mail: aarhusaparan@mail.ru, info_aparan@aarhus.am Translated by Anush Beybutyan

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.

Finding: Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD) involved in Human Rights Abuses in Armenia

On March 31, 2015, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan, published his Annual Report examining the activities of 25 Armenian government agencies and compiled 167 systemic problems which have violated the human rights of thousands of people in Armenia.

Pages 173-175 of the Ombudsman's Annual Report deals with the Human Rights abuses against the residents of Meliq Village where  Mego-Gold LLC  (a subsidiary of Global Gold Corp) has been trying for 4 years to get its third tailings dam approved for its Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.

(see http://extortion-in-armenia.blogspot.ca/2014/10/local-villagers-at-meliq-oppose-gbgds.html)

The chief provocateur of the Meliq Community is none other than Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, the President, CEO, Chairman, Director and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp, a penny stock listed on the otcmarkets (otcqb:GBGD), that controls the Toukhmanuk Gold Mine.

Surprisingly, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is also the co-chair of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), which is a tax exempt 301(c) registered lobby group that promotes public awareness of Armenian issues, encourage greater Armenian-American participation in the American democratic process, and assist in humanitarian and development programs in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, while strengthening the US-Armenia and US-Nagorno Karabakh relationships.

While Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is an active member of the US-Armenian community and a "respected" lawyer fighting for human rights for the Armenian people in the USA, in Armenia, he does not appear to be interested in Armenian Human Rights, and is pushing to build a gold mine, which the local Meliq Village community opposes.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, clearly has a conflict of interest. He operates a company that has business dealings with the Armenian government and also has access the Government of Armenia through his ties with the AAA.

He has used these ties to keep his projects alive in Armenia. In the past I have tried to expose these ties in my blogs.  (see http://gbgd-armenia-mining.blogspot.ca/2013/05/oh-what-tangled-web-we-weave-when-first.html)

Krikorian fights for Armenian Rights but his Co. GBGD abuses Armenian Rights in Armenia. http://t.co/xUm9lW3GHH https://t.co/dXgMIlYY01

— Bill Mavridis (@bmavridis) June 11, 2015

The Ombudsman's report reads:

In general, environmental issues have received over 100 complaints in 2014, the Ministry received complaints, there were also complaints about the environmental decision relating to the environmental impact assessment and examination of projects, project documents and their authorized by the relevant social and professional organizing hearings between a small period of time, being a small space allocated for the public hearing, public hearings on the project and the statement, the ministry's official website late placement, etc.  

For example, according to Melik village community of 74 residents' complaints, they were not aware of it to February 2, 2014, the ministry website said the former "Environmental Impact Assessment" The procedure established by Article 8 of Law of February 10, 2014 at 11: 00 pm will be held at Yerevan's Sundukyan Street 23/100 had "Mego-Gold" LLC's Aragatsotn province Tukhmanuk tailings project revised environmental part of the environmental impact of public hearings. Therefore, the discussion took place without the affected community participation. 

The study showed that in accordance with the law has not complied with the above procedure preceding the "Environmental Impact Assessment" of the Law Article 6 of the procedure, the intended operation of the notification provision. Thus, any initiator (in this case, "Mego-Gold" LLC) in the surrounding Environmental impact assessment of any activity implementation after being notified authority within 7 days to inform the affected community leaders and the public about the planned activities of the project proposals, to the affected community leaders and the initiator notice within 15 days organize the planned activities. Public hearings on the media information about planned activity, date and place of the hearing. 

According to the law, if within 30 days of the affected community or society's proposals are sent to the authorized body, is considered a positive opinion of the affected community. In this case, the Ministry of Janaury 17, 2014. Melikgyugh was written notice to the Chairman of the procedure laid down in Article 6 of the Law on the implementation of planned activities within the prescribed 30-day period before and after the completion of the public hearings on February 1, 2014 was published, and based on February 10.  In 2014, organized by the Public Hearings are directed to the law, Article 8 procedure documentation to the study, which was essentially an environmental impact assessment of the procedure in 2nd round thus clearly defined by law as binding public hearing dates were set as a result of various and procedures to ensure the implementation of environmental impact on the availability of complete and comprehensive conclusion. Therefore, the Ministry of affected communities should enable the prescribed 30-day period for submitting its opinion, which would be considered positive only in the event of failure. Thus, the Ministry violated above-mentioned period and further measures taken earlier. 

The Proposal. Violations of procedures to ensure the rule of organizing public hearings, environmental impact assessment and evaluation of projects, project documentation for proper consideration of the affected community's full involvement in the procedure.

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia. 

Does Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD) Have any Gold Reserves at TOUKHMANUK?

The AARHUS Centre of Armenia published analysis showing the gold reserves issued by the Armenia GKZ under Decree No. N234 are effectively null and void. Pretty much what I have been echoing for some time.

Read below or go to link: http://aarhus.am/?page_id=1383

About Toukhmanuk gold mine or Decree No. 234 being null and void

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA is Confessing.

The Ministry agrees to declare that the “approved reserves” resulted by the supplementary exploration of Mego-Gold’s Toukhmanuk gold mine in 2006-2008 have not been registered in the balance sheet as a result of which has not been formed new right on Mineral Resource Management.

The web is untangling or about the Decree No. 234 to be null and void

Through the letter addressed to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA 23.09.2013, we wanted to get a clarification regarding the fact already discussed many times refer to the contradiction in the clauses1 and 4 of the Decree No. 234, dated in 30.10.2009 of the Agency for Mineral Resources of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA on the revaluation of Toukhmanuk gold mine reserves in the Aragatsotn Province by the “Mego-Gold” LLC in 2006-2008.

Because according to the clause 1 of that decision the Agency for Mineral Resources made ​​decision:

to approve the reserves of the Central Area of Toukhmanuk gold mine of Aragatsotn Province as of 01.01.2009, in accordance with the Annex 1 to this decision as well as with the data of following table:

According to the 4th clause of the decision:

4. to offer the “Republican State Geological Fund” SNCO to refrain from making amendments in the republican balance sheet of the mineral deposits arising from the clause 1 of the decision until the implementation of the works mentioned in the previous clause.

The issue was worded as follows:

a. if the above mentioned approved reserves have been registered in the republican balance sheet of mineral reserves by the “Republican State Geological Fund” SNCO or not.

The response is the following:

In response to your above mentioned letter, the reserves of Toukhmanuk gold mine in Aragatsotn Province approved by the Decree No. 234, 30.10.2009 have not been registered in the balance sheet of the mineral deposits, in accordance with the demand of the 4th clause of the same decision.

Here we consider necessary to present some of the requirements set by the RA Code on mineral recourses:

Article 63
State registration of geological exploration works, mineral resources reserves, mines, developments
1. Geological exploration works are subject to state registration.
2. It is prohibited to implement geological exploration works without public record.
3. Mineral resources reserves, mines and mineral resources developments are subject to the state registration of the balance sheet, as well as in the form of mineral deposits and developments inventory.
4. On the basis of public records data on mineral resources reserves, mines, developments and geological studies is shaped the fund of mineral resource management.
5. Expert opinion on mineral resources reserves is a basis for registration in the balance sheet
7. As a result of re-establishment mineral resources reserves relevant amendments are made in the state registration

In its response the ministry actually confirms that the requirements of the paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 63 of the reserves state registration are overlooked by the competent authority, if the reserves were really approved in accordance with the paragraph 1 of the decision.

Or in contrary to the logic and the requirement of the laws the competent authority had approved incomplete explored reserves under the paragraph 1 of decision No. 234, so the Agency for Mineral Resources of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA has committed violation of the law protecting interests of Mego-Gold.

The logic requires making any conclusion based on the legal requirement, therefore, if in 2006-2008 the mine reserves based on the supplementary exploration results were not registered by Mego-Gold, then, proceeding from the above-mentioned paragraphs 1 and 7 of the Article 63, we can conclude that these resources cannot be called approved or reestablished, since relevant amendments were not made in the balance sheet.

“Confirmed” or “unconfirmed” concepts as separate concepts are not included in the Code. In the RA Code on Mineral Resources are commented the concepts “Resources” and “Accounting”.

It is worthy to speak about not registering the resources under the paragraph 4 of the decision N 234 which makes meaningless or null and void the paragraph 1 of the same decision.

Let’s take a few concepts that are commented in the code.

In accordance with the RA Code on Mineral Resources:

Article 3: the main concepts used in the Code:

11) Useful mineral resources- accumulation of useful minerals which volume, quantity, quality, and the position and shape are determined.
12) Mine – a part of the underground, which contains useful mineral which have got geological- economical evaluation.
15) Balance of Mineral Reserves – form of state registration of found mineral resources for each year as of January 1, which contains data on researched mines resources quantity, quality and degree of it exploration, as well as the change during the reporting period

The next question of our letter:

b. Whether the company has carried out the works mentioned in the paragraph 3 of the decision No. 234 or not.

Let us remind that the 3rd paragraph of the decision N 234 is the following; to underline the fact of incomplete exploration of the Central Area of Toukhmanuk gold mine of Aragatsotn Province and the strict necessity to solve the problems mentioned in the paragraph 2.1 of this Decision during the second phase of its supplementary exploration.

The answer is as follows: “The economic entity has not presented report on the activities planned by the paragraph 3 of the decision of Agency for Mineral Resources of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA as a result of which has not formed new rights on Mineral Resource Management.

The only “valuable” information in the response letter is that the ministry, however, reported that defective works have not been continued, and therefore have not formed new rights on Mineral Resource Management. This honest part of the answer we qualify as an acquisition, this is a news, perhaps unwittingly confession, because at the all response letters distracting from the issues the Ministry tried to disguise through the decision N 234 the fact of operating Mego-Gold illegally without a project and by open cast method and allegedly after revaluation and reestablishment of reserves the geological-economical new conditions predicted the effectiveness of the mine development by the open cast method.

It remains to ask the ministry if a new mineral right has not been formed then in this case how had been confirmed only open pit ore mining in accordance with the mining license agreement No. 287 dated 31.07.2006, and land allocation act 086 for underground mining, and on what legal basis in 12.28.2012 have been reformulated the mineral rights act already suspended by the licensing agreement in 01.11.2008, on what ground mentioned only open pit mine and land allocation established until 2017, when, according to the Ministry’s response letter addressed to us was mentioned that “Until today, the economic entity is implementing exploration activity in accordance with the PV -184 contract, which is valid until January 31, 2015.”

Maybe it is the same kind of misprint as the exploration license granted to Mego-Gold in 02.07.2013, issued for 4 years, instead of 3 years determined by the law. Somebody is prolonging the terms of the Mego-Gold documents by misprints; it is worthy to find out who is that unfortunate benefactor.

Besides making controversial analysis refer to the decision No. 234 we should clarify why the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA closes eyes in favor of Mego – Gold which does not fulfill the duties required by law and is carrying out illegal mining.

18.10.2013

Greta Gaboyan

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.

Armenian NGO Demands Criminal Investigation against Global Gold

On December 12, 2014, Ecological Right, an Armenia based environmental NGO, sent a letter to the Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, demanding that a criminal investigation be opened on Mego-Gold, a subsidiary of Global Gold Corp and owner and operator of the Toukhmanuk Gold project.

See Copy of the translated Letter as published on the ARHUS Website of Armenia by clicking here

See Original Armenian Version by clicking here

Ecological-Right lists the following as grounds of criminal investigation and charges against Mego-Gold/Global-Gold.

• embezzlement of state property through fraud; 
• tax evasion through false entrepreneurship, hiding overpayments and other gained material benefits, which has caused major damage to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia; 
• Performing illegal commercial activities without a special permit (license) to carry out entrepreneurial activities subject to licensing; 
• violation of rules in implementing environmental safety activities; 
• features of crimes in violation of rules of mineral resources conservation and use. 

The letter is signed by the Chairman of Ecological Right NGO in Armenia, Mr. Arthur Grigorian.

Mr. Grigorian can be reached at: 
tel: +37410621739
 mob: +37491451320
 e-mail: art.grigorian@gmail.com

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.

Local Armenian NGO Files Reports Painting a Terrible Picture at GBGD Toukhmanuk Gold Project

Below I have compiled various reports filed by ECOLUR:

Soil of Meliq, Rya Taza and Miraq Villages is Polluted with Heavy Metals and Toxic Elements from Tukhmanuk Gold Mine

14:02 June 13, 2013

EcoLur

Heavy and exotoxic elements such as As, Sb, Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Sn, Bi are spread from Tukhmanuk gold mine via different pipes, which get accumulated in Meliq, Rya Taza and Miraq Villages, Aragatsotn Region, and other land areas, as well as in bottom sediments of Halavar and Qasagh Villages. This is what “Ecochemical Analysis of Tukhmanuk zone land and river bottom sediments” work says implemented by “ArmEcoMonitoring” SNCO Deputy Director Seyran Minasyan on “BLEJAN” NGO’s order.

According to this work, the total concentrations of potentially hazardous 17 elements and metals (Sr, Ba, Mn, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sn, Bi, U, As, Sb, Pb, Cd) have been determined in the samples. It turned out that the concentration of the studied elements of the observation sites located above Meliq Village and below Miraq Village and interim territory of Rya Taza-Meliq exceeds MCP by 12.-2.5 times.

Reminder: Tukhmanuk gold mine is developed by “MegoGold” LLC.

EcoLur Opinion on Tailing Dump Construction Project in Meliq Village

15:16 April 25, 2013

EcoLur

“EcoLur” Informational NGO has sent its opinion on Tailing Dump Construction Project in Meliq Village to the Ministry of Nature Protection.

The opinion says, “The tailing dump construction project in Meliq village proposed by Mego Gold Company should be turned down on the following grounds: the project doesn’t reflect the factual risks and the project is isolated from complex issues of extraction, production and maintenance of industrial wastes.

The tailing dump should be the third one in the territory of Meliq village. It should collect the tails of Mega Gold gold-extracting production. The plant processes gold-bearing ore of Tukhmanuk gold mine. The data submitted in the project about the composition of tails don’t comply with the composition of ores, the data about the presence of toxic metals and toxic elements left after gold extraction are missing in the project. The assessment of background pollution of water and land areas caused by two operating tailing dumps is also missing in the project. It’s possible to indirectly judge about the pollution based on the results of the analysis carried out by the Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of NAS RA presented to the public and by the research articles about the composition of ore in Tukhmanuk mine. The data about the probable impact on human health are missing. As Health Ministry response shows their specialists haven’t carried out any examinations in the village and they relied exclusively on the project documentation, which doesn’t reflect the real situation.

What about environmental expertise experts’ opinion, in the course of specialized hearings at Nature Protection Ministry held on 19 April, they confirmed that they relied not on the studies of the situation, which already has sharply negative background, but on the data in literature, i.e. they don’t handle the situation. The minutes of the public hearings held in Meliq Village on 27.11.2012 don’t comply with what public representatives and the locals said at the hearings proved by the video recording made by EcoLur in the course of the public hearings. In the course of the discussions held at Nature Protection Ministry on 19 April 2013 Mego Gold Company Director Ashot Poghosyan stated many times when answering to the questions that the final replies to the questions about risks raised by public can be given only when a new project for Tukhmanuk mine development will be submitted.

We propose to consider the problem of keeping industrial wastes of Tukhmanuk mine development in complete documentation package, where not only the tailing dump project will be submitted, but also the projects of mine development and gold-extracting production.”

“EcoRight” NGO Demanding Criminal Investigation for Tukhmanuk Mine Tailing Dump Project

14:21 March 12, 2013

EcoLur

“EcoIravunq” NGO (“EcoRight”) has sent a letter to Public Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan on crime commission, signed by NGO Chairman Arthur Grigoryan. The letter particularly says, “On 27 November 2012 Mego Gold Company organized public hearings in Meliq Village, Aragatsots Region, on the construction project of the third tailing dump for the disposition of wastes of Tukhmanuk mine it develops. The project mentions that the tails contain the following chemical compounds, SiO2 – 46,23%; AL2O3 – 10,81%; MgO – 5,17% ; TiO2 – 0,82 %; CaO –6,41%; MnO – 0,15%; Fe2O3 – 6,4%; FeO -3,62%, but the project doesn’t say a word about heavy metals. The Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies conducted laboratory analysis, which says that the tails contain arsenic, cadmium and lead. The divergence of the data with the project causes to suspect that the company and Lernametalurgiakan Institute intentionally misled the public by concealing the composition of the tails and their impact on the community and people’s health. The aforementioned facts point out the existing deviations of mine development from the confirmed project, which may contain the features of Articles 281 and 284 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. We think that criminal investigation needs to be carried out to reveal the creditability of the information presented in the project and to reveal to what extent the company and Lernametalurgiakan Institute intended to mislead public with this information, to what extent the activities of Tukhmanuk mine development deviates from the confirmed project and whether there are features of Articles 281 and 284 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.”

Public Demanding to Annul Minutes of Hearings on Tailing Dump Construction in Meliq Village

19:34 March 11, 2013

EcoLur

Public representatives have applied to Nature Protection Ministry demanding to annul the minutes of the hearings on the construction project of a new tailing dump in Meliq Village. The tailing dump will be the third, which Mega Gold Company, the developer of Tukhmanuk gold mine, intends to construct in the village. The application particularly says, “…In the course of the public hearings on 27 November, Meliq Village Head stated he would present the opinion of the village a month later. Nevertheless, the minutes of the hearings are dated 27 November and signed by the village head and company director. The minutes say, “The village has no objections in regard with the construction of a tailing dump…A decision was reached to approve the environmental part of Tukhmanuk dressing plant…” It’s falsification, as during the hearings many opinions were expressed about the impermissibility of constructing the third tailing dump in the village. The minutes don’t reflect the viewpoints of the villagers and public representatives. The company representatives and the project developer, who worked on the project development by company’s order, expressed their positive opinions. We demand to annul the minutes of the public hearings held by Mega Gold Company on the construction project of a new tailing dump for Tukhmanuk dressing plant in Meliq Village,” the application says. The application is corroborated with the minutes of the public hearings for 27 November and the video recording.

Public Environmental Alliance to Armenian PM: Asking to Stop “MegoGold” Company Activities

12:37 January 18, 2013

EcoLur

Public Environmental Alliance, an alliance of 50 NGOs, has addressed a letter to Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan, which particularly says, “On 20.11.2012 the Public Environmental Alliance has filed a proposal to Nature Protection Ministry, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment to set up a working group in regard with the activities of “MegoGold” LLC in Meliq Village. We would like to ask you to assign Nature Protection Ministry, Health Ministry and Ministry of Emergency States, in the frames of their terms of reference, to conduct examination of the situation and to present the findings to the public…At present “MegoGold” Company intends to construct the third tailing dump in Meliq Village. We are asking to stop the activities of the company till the assessment of the situation on the spot.”  The proposal filed to Nature Protection Ministry dated on 20.11.2012 is attached to the letter, “…According to the project (construction of a tailing dump), Meliq Village is located in the zone of nine-point seismic risks.” “MegoGold” Company intends to construct a new tailing dump in the territory of 7 ha…The company is the subsidiary of “Global Gold” Company and has been developing Tukhmanum gold mine since 2006. Ore dressing is conducted directly in the territory of Meliq Village. The village itself is in a hard situation. Numerous breakdowns of operating tailing dumps has led to the default with the water pipe of the drinking water in the village, because drinking and irrigation waters get mixed…The dust blown off the tailing dump, accumulates on the ground, which villagers cultivate and contaminate them with heavy metals. All this lead to decrease in crop productivity and caused huge damage, which hasn’t been studied and assessed. According to the villagers, they incur material and moral damage from the development of the mine and the tailing dump. Villagers’ health has been deteriorated, birth rate had reduces, cancer diseases have increased. The villagers have filed complaints to the state bodies, but to no avail,” the letter says.

Public Thinks that Mego Gold Company Should Present New Complex Project of Tukhmanuk Mine Development

12:44 December 04, 2012

EcoLur

The NGOs having taken part in the public hearings on the construction project of the tailing dump of Mego Gold Company in Meliq Village on 27 November think that a new complex project should be presented on the development of Tukhmanuk gold mine.

In their statement to Aram Harutyunyan, Minister of Nature Protection, they noted, “On 27 November 2012 “Mego Gold” Company organized public hearings on the construction project of a new tailing dump in Meliq Village, Aragatsotn Region. The public hearings were participated by Meliq villagers and Village Head Hakob Mkrtchyan, “Mego Gold” LLC Director Ahsot Poghosyan, “Mego Gold” LLC Deputy Director Henrikh Mkrtchyan, Nature Protection Ministry “Environmental Expertise” SCNO Expert Laura Balayan, Head of Environmental Department of “Lernametalurgiakan Institute” Hovik Nikoghosyan, public representatives – Greens Union Chairman Hakob Sanasaryan, “Shogher” Union Chairman Hasmik Aslanyan, Yerevan Aarhus Center Coordinator Silva Ayvazyan, Aparan Aarhus Center Coordinator Natalya Manukyan, Lawyer of Aarhus Centers Arthur Grigoryan, expert-hydrologist Qnarik Hovhannisyan, Editor of http://www.ecolur.org/ Victoria Burnazyan and mass media. Nevertheless, the minutes of the public hearings were not drawn up on the spot.

The participants put their signatures on a separate sheet of paper, which should be attached to the minutes. Meanwhile, a part of the participants, such as the representative of the Environmental Expertise Laura Balayan and Developer Hovik Nikaghosyan left the hall before the end of the hearings. Meliq Village Head Hakob Mkrtchyan stated that the villagers will express their opinions within a month.

We, public representatives, were not acquainted with the text of the minutes and think that the procedure of hearings minutes taking was violated, and consequently, the minutes, as an official document, should be recognized null and void.

Then, under the project:

1. We consider it necessary that Mego Gold Company to meet the demand of the local population and introduce it into the project:

a) the plan of reclamation of two tailing dumps with diagrams and cost of actions. If the company intends to extract the gold it contains, the activities of tail processing should also be included into the project.

 b) an alternative of Tukhmanuk gold mine development in closed method,

 c) to estimate the damage caused to farms in Meliq Village or plan of actions for consequence minimization,

d) in case of production expansion, to present a plan for forced resettlement.

2. In the course of the public hearings in Meliq Village on 27 November, Company Director Ashot Poghosyan stated that there are plans to expand production and mining volumes, while the issue of new tailing dumps may arise. For the purpose of correct assessment of risks for hazardous objects and supposed actions of Mego Golf Company we think it’s necessary for the company to present a complex project, where the integral part of the project will be the construction of new tailing dumps. The project should also present measures on prevention of environmental pollution.

3.  In the presented project the components of tails don’t comply with scientific data (Sh. Khachatryan, “Geochemical characteristics of Tukhmanuk Gold Mine (Aragatsotn Region)”, “Procs of Yerevan State University, 3 (223), 2010). We would ask the  developer company to submit the methodology and experimental findings.

4. Developer Hovik Nikaghosyan has tightly connected the construction of a new tailing dump and employment at the plant. “If there is no tailing dump, there will be no mine operating, if there is no mine operating, there will be no plant operating… Everything depends on you, if you don’t want, you can reject, and the mining industry will be closed down in Meliq Village…” We value this statement as misinformation, as the company is able to present an alternative, for example, to conclude an agreement with other ore processing plant.”

Mego Gold Company Intends to Construct Another Tailing Dump Besides Designed Third Tailing Dump (Photos)

    

17:35 November 28, 2012

EcoLur

Meliq villagers have to decide whether or not they agree “Mego Gold” Company to construct a new tailing dump in the territory of the village. This is what Meliq Village Head said in the course of public hearings on the project on 27 November. Like the previous tome, the minutes of the public hearings were not drawn up. It’s still unknown when the minutes will be drawn up as an official document and passed to the environmental expertise. It’s also not clear, what these minutes will include out of the expressed opinions. The public representatives considered this to be a violation of the procedure and didn’t sign under the list of participants, while the villagers expressed their extreme concern with project risks. First of all, these risks include two non-cultivated tailing dumps and a damaged irrigation system, as a result of which 60 families lost their harvest of the potatoes. People complain of bad ecology and problems with birth rate. The NGOs expressed such an opinion that the village is on the verge of resettlement, as these land areas will stop to be fertile, while after several months it won’t be possible to cultivate these land areas.

But this is not all. Besides the designed construction of the third tailing dump, the company intends to construct another tailing dump, as Mego Gold Company is going to expand its mining volumes in Tukhmanuk gold mine despite the accumulated debts.   

More details about all this, about questions and answers raised in the course of the public hearings will be provided in upcoming news by EcoLur.  

MegoGold Company Project in Meliq Village: “It's Early to Speak about New Tailing Dump Unless First Tailing Dump Recultivated” (Photos)

      

15:29 November 01, 2012

EcoLur

Meliq Village hasn't yet made a decision on the construction of a new tailing dump. 'It's early to speak about a new tailing dump, unless the first tailing dump is recultivated,' Said Meliq Village Head Hakob Mkrtchyan. The public hearings on the construction project of a new tailing dump for Megogold Company was held in Meliq Village on 30 October. Nevertheless, the villagers didn't know anything either about the project or the public hearings. Only after half an hour after the appointed time, about 20 people came to participate in the hearings and presented their problems concerning the company activities. An interesting fact: one of the participants, Karen, who had declared about the company owing him money, over 500,000 AMD as a salary, is at the same time the shareholder of American 'Global Gold Mining' Company. The certificate is issued for 250 USD. 'When the company's business was good, about 30 employees received such certificates. I still don't know, what I will gain, but I'm not going to sell it,' Karen said.

The main problem is that the company intends to take new territories from the village, but it hasn't recultivated old tailing dumps, which cause essential damage to the village. One tailing dump is mentioned in the list of 19 tailing dumps known to the Ministry of Emergency States. The characteristics of the tailing dump are as follows: distance from Meliq Village – 2 km, projected volume – 90,000 cubic meters, fullness – 45,000 cubic meters. The second tailing dump is missing in the list.

EcoLur working group asked to help them to get familiar with the spot of new tailing dump construction and the state of the old tailing dump. Nevertheless, the official representative of the company Henrikh Mkrtchyan left and took with them the representative of Nature Protection Minister Laura Balayan and projector Hovik Nikaghosyan.

A local resident agreed to take us to the place.  Outwardly, the tailing dump complied with what the residents said about it during the hearings. Water flew out of one of them through the dug out canal. There were no dams or concrete fortifications. Unfortunately, there was nobody we could ask a question about what we had seen, while the workers having come to the spot after us just forces us out of the territory. “Go away, you don't have any right, this is our territory…”, they said. The explanations that the company is the organiser of the hearings and shouldn't hinder to examine the project on the spot didn't help.

The hearings were held in tense atmosphere. In near future you can watch the video by EcoLur, which shows the Q&A session between residents and Hovik Nikaghosyan and Henrikh Mkrtchyan.

Tailing Dump To Be Constructed in Meliq Village, 9-magnitude Seismic Zone

17:35 October 29, 2012

EcoLur

“MegoGold” LLC intends to construct a tailing dump in the territory of 7 ha in Meliq village (Aragatsotn Region), a 9-magnitude seismic zone. Public hearings on the tailing dump project will be held in the administration building of Meliq Village at 12:00 p.m. on 30 November. “MegoGold” LLC is registered in Armenia and is the subsidiary of Global Gold Company. The tailing dump will be located in a distance of 1600 meters far away from the plant.  “…The volume of dumps will make up 88.6 %  of all the processing volume...The composition of the tails include SiO2 – 46,23%;   AL2O3 – 10,81%;  MgO – 5,17% ;  TiO2 – 0,82 %;  CaO – 6,41%;  MnO – 0,15%;   Fe2O3 – 6,4%;  FeO -3,62%…

Emissions into atmosphere will make up 277.27 tons during construction works… Main polluting substances in the emissions near settled areas are within standards…There are two deep tectonic fractures in the territory…According to the standards of seismic construction, the territory is located in 9-magnitude seismic zone… The volume of ores taken out during the construction works will make up 3342235 tons… Risks at construction works – elimination of vegetation, pollution of territory with construction garbage… Economic damage will make up 733.117 million AMD... The presented sum is not a ground for financial liability… The total amount of damage for environment – air, water and soil, will make up  4,426,620 AMD…”, - the report says.

The report doesn’t say how many tons of raw materials mined from Tukhmanuk mine per year will be processed at the factory and how many tons of tails will be dumped into the tailing dump.  Let’s make a reference to the information provided by ArmInfo News Agency in 2008, “…The data of the State Committee on Reserves say that the level of reserves in Tukhmanuk mine make up 12.1 tons of gold with gold ratio 6.74 gr per ton and 30.79 grams of silver per ton.” 

“MegoGold” Proposing to Construct New Tailing Dump in Aragatsotn Region

18:27 October 16, 2012

EcoLur  The official website of Nature Protection Ministry informs that “MegoGold” LLC proposes to construct a new tailing dump for the processing plant in Aragatsotn Region. “MegoGold” LLC is developing Tukhmanuk gold mine. The tailing dump, sized 1.53 ha, shall be located next to Melik village. The insoluble part of the tails consists of SiO2 – 46,23%; AL2O3 – 10.81%; MgO – 5.17% ; TiO2 – 0.82 %; CaO – 6.41%; MnO – 0,15%; Fe2O3 – 6.4%; FeO -3.62%... During the functioning of the tailing dump, dust emissions will make up 25.6 tons per year or 0.128 tons per day...”

Photo by www.yerkirmedia.am

About this Blog:  Between 2009 and 2012 I was an active investor in the mineral exploration sector in the Republic of Armenia.  Our main project in Armenia was the MARJAN polymetallic gold and silver project located in near Sissian.  My JV partner, Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, President of Global Gold Corp (otcqb: GBGD) and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America, used corrupt means including using his influence with the US EMBASSY in YEREVAN to secure an indictment against me for theft of the JV and to corrupt the Armenia judicial system to give him a favourable ruling.

Mr. Van Z. Krikorian is the President, CEO and Legal Counsel of Global Gold Corp. (otcqb:GBGD), a penny stock listed on the OTC  markets. His public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission  fail to fully disclose the reality on the ground in Armenia in the promotion and development of GBGD's gold project, the TOUKHMANUK GOLD MINE.

This blog is an effort to bring transparency of the activities of Global God Corp. (otcqb: GBGD) and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian in Armenia.