On January 10, Armenian Minister of Environment Akop Simidyan confirmed that Lydian Armenia has secured all required permits to begin operations at the Amulsar gold mine. The company has conducted all necessary environmental assessments, including two Environmental Impact Assessments (OVOS). Despite opposition from local activists since 2018, the government is moving forward with the project. A memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between the government, Lydian Armenia, and the Eurasian Development Bank has ensured financial backing, with $150 million allocated for the continuation of construction and equipment purchases. In 2024, local organizations and citizens near the mine expressed their opposition, but the government remains committed to restarting operations, with expectations to begin full-scale mining by late 2025.
