YEREVAN. – The mining industry’s accelerated growth, with around 20-25 percent per year, will result in the  rapid consumption of the resources. The opposition bloc Armenian National Congress member and former PM Hrant Bagratyan announced this on Saturday, speaking at a roundtable discussion.

“The rulers have picked up the spades [and] attacked on the mines,” the former PM stated. According to his calculations, Armenia’s mine reserves will be depleted in 15-20 years.  

Hrant Bagratyan is of the view that the incumbent government’s announcements on diversification of the economy are a lie.  

“The growth based on the mining industry is just as  bad as the growth based on [the] construction [sector],” Armenia’s former PM said.