Lydian International plans to revise its proposed mine design at the Amulsar gold project to take advantage of recent legislative changes in the Republic of Armenia. Under the newly enacted regulations, the maximum allowable ramp gradient for haul roads has been increased to 10%.
The original Amulsar feasibility study considered haul roads and pit ramps that were limited to a 7% grade. This change will not affect the safety of mining operations, according to Lydian. Moreover, reducing pit sizes will result in a decrease of barren rock volumes mined, reducing the associated environmental impact of planned production at Amulsar. The company believes it could save $100 million in operating costs over the life of mine as a result of these changes.
