Nestled amidst the scenic meadows near Agh-Darreh Alia, Agh-Darreh Sefeli, and Agh-Darreh Vasati, the Agh-Darreh Takab gold mine operates as Iran’s premier gold mining establishment, spearheaded by the Puyazarkan Agh-Darreh Mining Company (Private Share).
Since its inception in 2003, over 2 million tons of gold ore have been extracted annually, with the site 25 km from Takab city and its head office in Tehran.
The gold mine’s historical footprints trace back to the Pahlavi era when the German Minperk company initiated exploration. However, the mine’s acquisition by Puyazarkan Agh-Darreh remains shrouded in mystery.
Earlier exploration was cut short due to the identification of substantial mercury content. Presently, a legal proceeding, probing a 44 billion toman infringement linked to the mine’s environmental damage, has been lingering in the provincial courts since 2014, with a resolution yet to be reached.
The constant rumble of massive detonations disrupts their tranquility. The local populace’s hardships are compounded by the hiring of outsiders for most mining jobs, leading to rampant unemployment.
Ironically, this source of affluence has brought anything but prosperity to its immediate vicinity. Locals recount the obliteration of gardens, farmlands, springs, and transport networks.
The mine’s operational structure further contributes to regional instability. Workers are confined to six-month employment cycles each year. Layoffs during the colder months, while defended as weather-induced, seem unjust, plunging workers into economic distress. The disparity is stark as mine managers pocket hefty salaries, leaving workers grappling with inadequate wages and job insecurity.
In the heart of this chaos lies the village of Agh. Confronted with commuting challenges, school dropouts are common, particularly among girls. The stark contrast between the region’s wealth and students having to fund their school heating is disconcerting.
Even though the Agh-Darreh and Zarshouran gold mines account for 40% of Iran’s gold yield, poverty in Takab remains pervasive, ranking it among Iran’s 31 most underdeveloped cities.
Effective oversight of the mine’s operations in Takab seems conspicuously absent, with potential bias in inspections conducted by the same local authorities.
The riches from these mines haven’t trickled down to Takab’s residents. Instead, they grapple with grave environmental degradation threatening their health and environment. A legislative probe suggests that Puyazarkan may have greased the palms of governmental and security agencies, with a conspicuous disregard for environmental protocols. Additionally, the Zarshouran mine, 35 km from Takab, has garnered attention for ecological neglect, leading to cyanide spills endangering local biomes.
Amidst these challenges, the long-term 25-year contracts awarding gold mines in seven provinces to China and Russia have heightened anxieties over resource exploitation and the well-being of local communities.
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