The goal of the Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI) is to make metal mining in Armenia responsible by clarifying the legal obligations of mining companies and making them legally binding. The MLRI was founded in 2014 as a department of the Responsible Mining Center of the American University of Armenia, and in 2019, it became an independent non-profit organisation.
The works of the MLRI have been possible through the support of the Tufenkyan Foundation.
The Armenian government recently adopted new regulations implementing changes to the law governing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, including the mining sector. The new regulations demonstrate a firm commitment to making the mining license application and approval processes to be scientifically-based. These new requirements will reduce the discretion of mining enterprises when presenting ...
I. Reforming the EIA Law MLRI’s primary input centred on making metal mining more responsible in Armenia, particularly by clarifying the legal obligations of mining companies and making them enforceable. Previously, the mining Project Proposal was not a subject for the state environmental review, the Ministry of Environment could not assess how far the impact of specific activities introduced ...
Press Release Email: info@mlri.org.am Yerevan – Legislation tightening environmental regulations was recently signed into law by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan. This new environmental law, which impacts government licensing for mining, construction, and other industries, includes provisions that the Mining Legislative Reform Institute (MLRI) has been advancing for ...
Ապրիլի 16-17-ին Հայաստանի ամերիկյան համալսարանի (ՀԱՀ) Պատասխանատու հանքարդյունաբերության կենտրոնը անցկացրեց քաղաքականության մշակման երկօրյա աշխատաժողով՝ ավելի քան 30 քաղաքացիական հասարակության անդամների և կառավարության ...
On March 5, 2021, the first session of the Public Council under the Minister of Environment took place. The Public Council was formed by the order of the Minister of Environment, Romanos Petrosyan, in order to fully involve civil society in the process of solving environmental problems and implementing reforms. MLRI is also a member of the Public Council of the RA Ministry of Environment, among other ...
The online meeting of the Steering Committee of the Protection of the Environment of Lake Sevan (EU4Sevan) program took place on February 23, with the participation of the Ministry of Environment, the EU Delegation to Armenia, the German Embassy in Armenia, and the UN Office in Armenia. The following points were emphasized during the meeting: • The project will help identify the potential ...
On January 18, 2021, RA Minister of Environment, Romanos Petrosyan, sent a letter to international environmental organizations, drawing their attention to the serious consequences of the use of internationally banned toxic weapons by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh during the war. The Azerbaijani aggression was not limited to Artsakh, but spread to the territory of the Republic of Armenia ...
On September 23, the RA Ministry of Environment sent a letter to the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding a number of violations revealed during the exploitation of the “Mghart Gold Mine”. The main violations committed by the mine operating company since 2011 are: • The absence of a water use permit; • The company buildings were constructed without an environmental impact ...
On August 19th, the “Green Climate Fund” approved the application submitted by Armenia in 2019, and it will accordingly provide Armenia a grant of $ 10 million for reafforestation and support to alternative energy supply in rural communities. As a result hundreds of new jobs will be created. The project will be implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Environmental Projects ...
In spite of the coronavirus pandemic and the disrupted conditions affecting normal life, the Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI) has not ceased working. It closely follows the developments taking place in the sphere, the proposals submitted by the RA Government and the discussions held in the National Assembly. The main mission of the MLRI is to make mining practice in Armenia responsible and ...
After two years as Executive Director of the Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI), Varant Meguerditchian announced that he will be standing down from the role in July this year. MLRI Board Member Raffi Doudaklian thanked Meguerditchian for his efforts, adding that the Board would be sad to see him leave. “We would like to thank Varant for his invaluable service and extend its ...
A proposal to place a moratorium on mine licenses failed to reach the floor of the National Assembly of Armenia after the Economic Committee rejected the draft bill citing the potential adverse effects on Armenia’s economy and investment. Opponents of the proposal cited that the Armenian government is currently undertaking a process to develop Armenia’s mining policy before enacting any ...
The Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI) Poll result has revealed that more than 60% of poll respondents hold concerns about the negative social and environmental impacts of mining in Armenia. In a Facebook poll, interested stakeholders were asked whether they agree with the statement: “Do you believe Armenia is benefiting from the metal mining sector?” Participants were offered ...
In recent years Armenia’s mining sector has come under heavy scrutiny due to claims of environmental destruction, corporate carelessness, damage to communities, breaches to workers’ rights and public health concerns. However, 2020 is shaping up to be an important year for pursuing mining sector reform in Armenia. In a promising sign, the Armenian government has openly expressed its aim ...
In a recent visit to Australia, MLRI’s Executive Director has held a number of events aimed at raising awareness of the need for reforming Armenia’s mining sector. During the events, Mr Meguerditchian discussed the current state of mining in Armenia, the existing poor practices and their collective negative impacts on the environment and the society more broadly. MLRI’s public engagement ...
Sky News Business Anchor Jon Dee will be the keynote presenter at the Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI) event in Sydney, Australia on 5 December 2019. The event will showcase the work of MLRI and shed light on the potential to implement sustainable development practices in Armenia. An advocate for business sustainability, Jon Dee is the founder of a number of charities and currently hosts ...
MLRI Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian speaks with Civilnet's Tatul Hakobyan about the controversial Amulsar mine and responsible mining from a mining legislation reform perspective. For more details, see the video by clicking on the photo above.
In the wake of the publication of the Elard Report on the proposed Amulsar mine, the Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI) has released a policy guideline highlighting the foundational principles of mining responsibly in Armenia and emphasizing that the natural resources of the nation belong to the people of Armenia. The MLRI Responsible Mining Policy guide which is available on the MLRI website ...
Environmental, social, economic and workers’ rights issues head up a list of key concerns raised by stakeholders during months of consultations held by the Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI). The newly released MLRI Stakeholder Report stresses that weak regulation for Environmental Impact Assessments and substandard practices of waste management, mine closures and environmental damage ...
Serj Tankian discusses Mining Reform in Armenia with MLRI Executive Director, Varant Meguerditchian at the Tufenkian Foundation's 20th Anniversary Event in New York. For more details, see the video by clicking on the photo above.
The Mining Legislation Reform Institute (MLRI) participated in the second session of the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Working Group on Mining Legislation Gaps. The session was held on 3 May 2019. The session, chaired by Member of National Assembly Mary Galstyan, focused on the management of ...
11 April 2019 The Mining Legislation Reform Initiative (MLRI) is entering a new phase of operations, focusing its efforts on public education and advocacy in the area of responsible mining in Armenia. Initially housed at the American University of Armenia (AUA) Center for Responsible Mining, MLRI will pursue this expanded scope of work as an independently registered NGO. Director of the AUA Center ...
The Mining Legislation Reform Initiative (MLRI) concluded its final formal stage of consultations with civil society and academic groups at the third MLRI Round Table Discussion this week as it prepares to launch MLRI’s Responsible Mining Policy Platform. Mining Policy and Legislative Reform Manager, Varant Meguerditchian was encouraged by the high levels of participation and depth of discussions ...
Civil society stakeholders came together for the second time in two months to deepen and progress discussions on responsible mining in Armenia. The stakeholders were participating in the second Mining Legislation Reform Initiative (MLRI) Round Table as they move forward to collectively develop a clear set of responsible environmental, economic, social, and workers’ rights mining policies. Mining ...
Civil society stakeholders met today to discuss the key issues facing the mining sector in Armenia. The impacts of mining on the environment, communities, the Armenian economy, and other such factors were discussed during the roundtable held at the American University of Armenia (AUA). Mining Policy and Legislative Reform Manager, Varant Meguerditchian highlighted the importance of the event, stating: ...
Varant Meguerditchian joins the AUA Center for Responsible Mining to run the Mining Legislation Reform Initiative (MLRI), a multi-year project funded by the Tufenkian Foundation. Varant is from Sydney, Australia, and brings with him significant stakeholder engagement, government relations and policy development experience across multiple sectors of the economy including technology, energy and the ...
«ՀՀ կառավարության 2012 թ. դեկտեմբերի 27-ի N1679-ն որոշման մեջ լրացումներ և փոփոխություն կատարելու մասին» ՀՀ կառավարության որոշման նախագիծ
«Քաղաքացիական պաշտպանության մասին» ՀՀ օրենքում փոփոխություն կատարելու մասին» ՀՀ օրենքի նախագիծ
«Հայաստանի Հանրապետության հարկային օրենսգրքում փոփոխություններ և լրացումներ կատարելու մասին» ՀՀ օրենքի նախագծի և հարակից օրենքների նախագծերի փաթեթ
«Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարության 2012 թվականի մարտի 22-ի N437-Ն որոշման մեջ փոփոխություններ և լրացումներ կատարելու մասին» Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարության որոշման նախագիծ
<<Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունում անապատացման դեմ պայքարի 2019-2020 թվականների գործողությունների ազգային ծրագիրը հաստատելու մասին>> ՀՀ կառավարության որոշման նախագիծ
«Հայաստանի Հանրապետության տարածքում սեյսմիկ ռիսկի նվազեցման պետական ծրագիրը հաստատելու և Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարության 1999 թվականի հունիսի 10-ի թիվ 429 և 1999 թվականի հունիսի 7-ի թիվ 392 որոշումներն ուժը կորցրած ճանաչելու մասին» Հայաստանի Հանրապ
«Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարության 2006 թվականի նոյեմբերի 16-ի N 1708-Ն որոշման մեջ փոփոխություններ և լրացումներ կատարելու մասին»
«ԱՐՏԱԿԱՐԳ ԻՐԱՎԻՃԱԿՆԵՐԻ ԿԱՌԱՎԱՐՄԱՆ ՄԱՍԻՆ» ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՕՐԵՆՔԻ ՆԱԽԱԳԻԾ
«Տեխնիկական կանոնակարգման մասին» օրենքում փոփոխություններ և լրացումներ կատարելու մասին
«Հավատարմագրման մասին» Հայաստանի Հանրապետության օրենքում փոփոխություններ և լրացումներ կատարելու մասին
