Last Time There Was a Tailings Leak Was in October: ZCMC Denies Report of Tailings ‘Explosion’

Today, reports in the media regarding an alleged ‘explosion’ at the tailings storage of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) have been described as misinformation and do not reflect reality. The plant has issued a statement asserting that there has never been a ‘explosion’ at the tailings of ZCMC.

“We are unsure whether those spreading such news understand what a ‘tailings explosion’ is and the consequences of disseminating false news of such magnitude both in Armenia and beyond. Therefore, we expect our media partners not to contribute to the spread of misinformation in such cases and to verify information with ZCMC,” the statement read.

“We are always ready to provide the real picture, which we are doing below. Over the years, there have been several instances of leaks from the tailings at ZCMC. The last such incident occurred more than two months ago, on October 13 of this year. As a result of operational measures, the spread of contamination was prevented. Authorities in Syunik Province's Environmental and Natural Resources Inspection have been informed about the leak.”

It is important to note that the underlying causes of such incidents stem from the procedural and technical upgrade issues accumulated over the years at ZCMC. The new owner of ZCMC, the Geopromining Group, has been managing the company since October 2021, committing to the gradual identification and resolution of existing environmental, social, and managerial issues at ZCMC.

A comprehensive audit and assessment of the current situation is currently underway. The public will be regularly informed about the issues, presenting the strategy for addressing longstanding problems.

ZCMC is a pillar of the Armenian economy, and fully uncovering and utilizing its potential, considering the accumulated problems, will require prolonged, consistent work, significant resources, and the joint efforts of all stakeholders, including affected communities, employees, society, and media.