Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine director for sustainable development: We intend to zero harmful substances’ emissions

Our objective is to reduce emissions of harmful substances to zero. Armen Stepanyan, Director for Sustainable Development at the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) of Armenia, announced this at Tuesday’s conference on the development of the ZCMC (PHOTOS).

He informed about their plan to reach the numbers that Armenia has undertaken on international platforms. Stepanyan noted that it is about reducing emissions of harmful substances by 40 percent by the year 2030.

"Serious steps must be taken to achieve zero emissions, and we are obligated to strive for it; but it is impossible to achieve this goal before 2040 to 2050," he added.

The ZCMC official noted that engaging in the mining of minerals without thinking about the environmental consequences, and leaving the respective problems to future generations, is irresponsible.

"We can double and even triple the capacities, but no one needs all that without the ethical component. And the application of a balanced environmental, managerial, and financial approach will ensure sustainable development of industrial opportunities," he said.

Also, Stepanyan noted the importance of public awareness, which will enable avoiding manipulations in the mining industry.

One of the acute environmental problems is the deepening water deficit as a result of climate change.

"It affects the industrial sector. Among other acute problems are waste management, means of transition to renewable energy. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to at least start a dialogue with the representatives of the mining industry and more actively use the technologies that already exist in the world. The [ZCMC] company takes and will continue to take steps to save water. It is not just a gesture of goodwill, but a necessity for risk management. Among those measures are the construction of reservoirs, the introduction of treatment plants, etc.,” Armen Stepanyan noted.