YEREVAN. - Economic approaches should be changed to regulate mining industry, said chairman of Ecolur NGO Inga Zarafyan. She added that no one is paying taxes for mining waste.

“We need to impose taxes on pollution. If agricultural land, forests and water are destroyed, damage should be assessed and the companies forced to compensate losses,” she said stressing that the bill on mineral resources adopted by lawmakers contains no provision on covering losses.

The environmentalist presented a list published by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, according to which there are 706 non-metallic mines, 30 metallic and polymetallic mines of which 20 are operated.

“Mineral resources of Armenia are controlled by several companies,” she said adding that the list includes Vallex Group and GeoProMining companies.