...[W]e do acknowledge...that the environmental safety of Alaverdi copper smelter is far from...satisfactory. The main reason for that is lack of any off‐gas treatment, resulting in emission of the entire volume of sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere. Until...mid‐2011...the grade of sulfur dioxide has exceeded maximum permissible levels by up to 12 times...[T]he solution of this core problem does not lie in mere use of filters...[W]e are currently investigating the possibilities of launching the electrostatic precipitator...If proved feasible, it should allow decreasing the amount of dust emitted to the atmosphere...Fundamental resolution of the environmental problems at the Alaverdi copper smelter associated with the off‐gas emissions can be seen only through off‐gas utilization for the production of by‐products like sulfuric acid...[T]hrough modifications conducted to the operation of converters and off‐gas collection system, it was possible...to decrease the share of disorganized emissions to...3 percent of total emissions...[T]he new chimney flue was launched...[M]aximum permissible concentrations now exceeded by only 1.1‐1.5 times...