The Rescue Service of the MIA regularly conducts training and tactical exercises aimed at capabilities building and skills of its personnel. The next one was in Syunik province.

The purpose of the exercise was to test the effectiveness of emergency response and the capabilities building of rescuers.
According to the scenario, accident had occurred about 10 km from Kapan: the main tailings pipeline of Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine was damaged. The specialists from the combine and Rescue Service units dispatched to the scene within minutes.

The actions were clear and coordinated: the shift foreman immediately informed the central shift, the tailings pipeline was redirected to the reserve 720 mm emergency pipelines and the damaged section was emptied into a special emergency basin. The emergency recovery activities began.

The basis of effective activities was the skill and vigilance of each employee. According to the Head of the Population Protection Department of Syunik Regional Rescue Department of the Rescue Service of MIA Armen Avagyan, such training sessions were extremely important, as they help employees to correctly navigate emergency situations, ensure a quick and effective response, preventing possible environmental risks.

“We plan to hold trainings and lectures with the employees of Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Plant throughout the year and we also establish daily contact with the relevant departments”, said the Head of the Population Protection Department of Syunik Regional Rescue Department of the Rescue Service of MIA Armen Avagyan.

The system operated under round-the-clock surveillance along the pipeline stretching from Kajaran to Artsvanik tailings dam. The duty groups regularly implemented patrolling and technical inspections of the tailings pipeline.

According to the Head of the Fire Service of the Labor Safety Department of Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine Rafik Arakelyan, the employees constantly monitored the pipeline to respond quickly in the event of an accident.

The conditional accident was eliminated the tailings pipeline was returned to the main pipeline and the system was switched to normal operation.

According to the experts, clearly developed actions and effective cooperation once again proved the system was ready for a quick and coordinated response to any emergency situation.