Nubarashen and Shahumyan Landfills to be Conserved and a New One to be Constructed
Landfills of Nubarashen and Shahumyan of Yerevan will be conserved, and in Nubarashen’s adjacent area a new landfill will be constructed. For this purpose European Investment Bank and EBRD will allocate EUR 8 million loan to RA Government, another EUR 8 million grant will be allocated by the EU Neighborhood Agreement. Kamo Areyan, Deputy Mayor of Yerevan, introduced loan agreements to NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.
According to him, three different sources fund one program, however, conditions are almost the same, loan repayment term is 14-15 years, with 2 and 3 years of grace period, interest rate is floating, and comprised 1% as of this morning.
“A landfill is located in an arbitrary place, which is impermissible from its environmental, exploitation and safety viewpoint. Any substructure doesn’t have today’s exploited landfill. It has created serious environmental threat to adjacent area throughout these 66 years—wastewater discharge and etc,” K.Areyan said, adding that from healthcare standpoint it’s impermissible, it’s a workplace of about 200 people, however, there is no any substructure—fence, gas leak absence and etc, which makes the landfill very dangerous and from urban viewpoint its exploitation is impermissible.
K.Areyan stated, that according to the program, it’s anticipated to separate a 29 hectares space near the landfill, provided for compiling 8.4 million m3 garbage. It’s planned to construct catchment basins, external light, fencing, drainage system, water wells, pipeline for gas accumulation, checking devices, laboratory and etc. A 5-year term has been planned for the program—the constructing German experienced company will exploit it for 2 years, after which it’ll transferred to the community organization, which will repay the loan.
According to K.Areyan, EUR 4.1 is anticipated for conservation of Nubarashen landfill, and EUR 2 million will be allocated for Shamuyan landfill conservation, ”Shahumyan’s “pest” is comparatively young, but it’s a very hazardous surrounding.”
“Our landfill is a disaster, it’s exploitation under the open air is impermissible,” he said.
According to K.Areyan, in the future a business plan will be developed and proposed to investors. In his words, Japan Shimadzu Corporation has constructed a small line in Nubarashen, and implements burning of that small quantity, however, it’s a precedent.
By the way, yet in the Soviet period, garbage recycling factory construction was launched behind Sovetashen, which, however, being ready for 50-60%, wasn’t completed, due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even equipment was brought, which is worn-out and out-of-date, and is no more useful for exploitation.
By Gayane Khachatryan
