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This paper aims to inform Armenia's
policy dialogue on environmental and social issues in the
mining sector. The paper is based on the premise that for
the mining sector to have positive, long-term impacts in
Armenia, it is necessary to take into consideration the
short- and long-term environmental and social impacts of the
sector and to promote strategic planning and efficient
management of natural resources. The mining sector in
Armenia has yet to adopt global best practices in this
sector, and this paper aims to provide guidance on some of
the mechanisms that can be adopted to improve the governance
and overall impact of mining in the country. The document is
structured as follows: chapter one presents an introduction
to this thematic paper. Chapter two provides an overview of
the mining sector in Armenia, including its underpinning
institutional and regulatory framework. It also singles out
policy gaps and regulatory inconsistencies that need to be
addressed. Chapter three presents some useful lessons of the
application of Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment
(SESA) as a tool for sustainable planning of mining
development in the country. This chapter also compares uses
of an SESA versus Environmental Impact Assessments and
defines the need and use of Cumulative Impact Assessment
(CIA). Chapter four describes the principles of valuation of
natural capital as a means to complement traditional
cost-benefit analysis and comparisons of development
alternatives in the decision-making process. Chapter five
looks at the design and implementation of benefit-sharing
mechanisms to ensure that the mining activities lead to
positive social impacts across the country. Chapter six
looks at the process of determining and dealing with the
social costs of mining in Armenia. Chapter seven provides a
series of conclusions and recommendations as well as
implementation challenges that will summarize the
application of such recommendations in present-day Armenia
and its mining sector.
