Commission on Seyudlu reported on its activities

Baku/19.07.23/Turan: The government commission set up to assess the environmental impact of the gold mine in Seyudlu village of Gedabey region has reported on its activities.

Based on the results of research and monitoring conducted by the commission, the current situation was analysed and comprehensive proposals were prepared to improve the health, safety and environmental situation in the area, the commission said in a statement.

The results showed that the enterprise operating in the area had committed violations of environmental safety and sanitary norms, and based on the commission's proposal, it was decided to temporarily stop the plant's operations.

According to the commission, its proposals also include an environmental audit of the territory with the participation of an international company, the development of rehabilitation and recultivation plans of the waste storage, as well as the complete fulfilment of the requirements for the improvement of the environment.

It is also stipulated that further continuation of the company's activities is possible, provided that modern technologies are introduced into production. "The company has obligations to improve relations with local residents and implement medical and social projects in the village of Seyudlu," the statement further reads.

According to the same source, on 18 July, a meeting was held in Seyudlu with representatives of the company managing the gold mine project, and local residents.

A resident of Seyudlu village who participated in the meeting with the commission members noted that the residents of Seyudlu stated that they are not against the state and the government, but just want to live in environmentally safe conditions.

He said that the operations of the gold plant have been stopped for three months.

"The work around the cyanide lake has also been stopped.  The commission members assured us that this lake will be completely dried up and a new closed storage facility for the waste from the plant will be built in another -place. In fact, the commission confirmed the rightness of the problems raised by the residents of our village," the source said.

At the same time, he added, the locals are dissatisfied that six people from among those arrested after the protest action on 20 June are still in custody.

Also, police checkpoints remain at the entrances to the village and persons without local registration could not enter the village without special permission from the state authorities.

Recall that the gold mine "Seyudlu" is operated by "Anglo Asian Mining PLC", which is registered in the UK with the participation of US citizen Reza Vaziri, owner of "RV Investments Group Services" LLC.

In 1997, the Government of Azerbaijan contracted with "RV Investments Group Services" LLC to grant rights for the development a number of ore deposits, including those in the village of Seyudlu. -03b-