MFA_Report_on_the_occupied_territories_March_2016_1

visited the area twice in 2012, in January and October), points to
the importance that Armenia is giving to that enterprise. 483 Thus,
in October 2012, the official press release from the office of the
President of Armenia informed about the following:
“[…] [t]he Presidents of Armenia and Karabakh visited
also the Maghavuz coal mine in Martakert region which
has already started to deliver black coal to the Republic
of Armenia for the Yerevan Hydro-Power Station, Ltd.,
which produces electricity in the mixed water-coal regime
(through the refurbishment and commissioning of the old
power generating units). This investment project, which
is important for the energy and mining areas, along with
fostering economy will also considerably enhance Armenia’s
energy security. The Presidents of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh were informed that a coal-preparation plant will
be constructed on the territory of the Maghavuz mine.
After familiarizing with the ongoing works and prospective
programs of the mine developing company, Presidents
Sargsyan and Sahakian wished the company all the best in
its future activities.” 484
Exploitation of Demirli coppermolybdenum
deposit in the occupied
part of the Tartar district
│Photo from www.bm.vallexgroup.am
│27 May 2014
Former Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan is quoted to have said that this programme
has a serious national security component and that “[i]t essentially reinforces our energy security
and increases flexibility of usage of energy resources”. He further added that “[b]esides, a
new road will be built tying us with Nagorno Karabakh through which the raw materials will be
transported to Armenia”. Referring to the above-mentioned investment programme, Sargsyan
noted that with it an additional resource will appear in the energy system, which will reduce the
cost price of electricity and “... promote the economic growth in 2012”, he said. 485 In an interview
to the Public TV Company of Armenia, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia,
Armen Movsisyan, said the following:
“We already know that Nagorno-Karabakh has enough coal for us to restart the old unit of
the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. Two years ago we launched a new unit and suspended
the old inefficient one. But later the President instructed us to consider ways to restart the
unit and to make it efficient. So, we decided to use the coal from Magavuz.” 486
According to the so-called “prime minister”
of the separatist regime Ara Harutyunyan,
this coal mine is a “big treasure, a resource
that will ensure the energy independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia”. 487
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan visits Demirli mine in the
occupied part of the Tartar district
│Photo from www.president.nkr.am │13 November 2013
President of Armenia is a frequent visitor
also to other mines throughout the occupied
territories. Thus, in November 2013, Serzh
Sargsyan visited the Demirli mining deposit
in the occupied part of the Tartar district,
exploited by the Base Metals CJSC, and got
483
See “Artsakh Working Visit Of President Serzh Sargsyan To The Republic Of Nagorno Karabakh”, President.am, 05 January 2012,
.
484
See “Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the Nagorno Karabakh”, President.am, 25 October 2012, .
485
See “Yerevan thermal power plant to work with Karabakh’s coal”, Armenpress.am, 02 February 2012, .
486
See “Estimation of coal resources in Nagorno-Karabakh will be continued in the next years”, Ecolur.org, 12 January 2012, .
487
Ibid.
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