EcoLur
In the framework of the project entitled “Support to SHPP-relating Reforms Through the Dialogue of Public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” the expert group visited “Jermuk 2” SHPP. “Jermuk 2” SHPP is located in the administrative area of “Jermuk” Hydrological Reserve, Vayots Dzor Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Arpa River (length – 126 km). It’s operated by “Jermuk Hydrotech” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- According to the project, the static pressure of the SHPP is 81.95 m, estimated pressure –65.35 m. The estimated yield used by the SHPP is 4.8 m3/s, projected capacity – 2.35 MW, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 9.37872 million kWh, according to the project, the estimated production is 10.2 million kWh (average), duration of license - 24.08.2011- 24.08.2026, water usage permit 17.07.2012 - 17.07.2015.
- There are significant incompliances between the real coordinates in water intake and discharge sections and the coordinates laid down in the water usage permit.
- The length of concrete dam in the SHPP is 14 meters, height – 4.5 meters instead of projected 13.5 meters length and 1.0 meter height.
- The project envisages a fish passway consisting of 15 stairs of 26 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. In fact, there is a stair-like fish passway constructed 1.1 meters wide and 23 meters long. There is special metallic construction in the upper part of the fish passway to block the entrance of the water into the fish passway. The stairs of the fish passway are rather high over each other, don’t have necessary surface for the fish to jump, which is an insurmountable obstacle for most fish species.
- You can meet the following fish species in the Arpa River: brown trout, the South Caucasus spirlin, Kura barbell, the Sevan Khramulya (red-listed in Armenia), the Kura loach, the Kura bleak, the Kura nase.
- At the end of the sand trap there are cage nets installed with three-centimeter slots as a fish-protecting net.
- According to the water usage permit, “Jermuk HPP-2” SHP can use 75670.0 cum water for 12 months a year. According to the project and the water usage permit, the environmental flow was set 0.44 cum/s.
- According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Jermuk HPP-2” SHPP operated for 12 months in 2014 and produced 8808492 kW electricity.
- Derivation pipeline is made of steel, it’s mainly underground. According to the project, the length of the pipeline is 3513 meters, diameter – 1420 mm. The pipeline entirely runs through the area of Jermuk Hydrological Reserve and it’s buried.
- Percentage correlation of aggregate length of SHPP derivation of “Areni HPP” (according to the project, 4 pressure pipelines, length of derivation pipeline – 30 meters long), “Jermuk HPP-2” SHPP (according to the project, length of derivation pipeline – 3531 meters), “Arpa” SHPP (according to the project, length of derivation pipeline – 3020 meters) with the length of the river makes up 5.20 % (126 km) meters.
- Instead of projected 4 turbines, there is only 1 European highly efficient turbine installed in the SHPP station. At the moment of observation, only 23.2% of the estimated yield was used, i.e. 1.1 m3/s water.
- The station is ensured with entire automatic management system.
- Automatic management and registration of water intake is ensured, but not for the environmental flow.
- The transformer substation is fenced, the installed transformer is not equipped with oil-collecting system.
- The station area is not fenced.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
Proposals
1.To ensure automatic management of environmental flow, installation of water-measuring devices and online control.
2.To reconstruct the fish passway ensuring the movement of the fish living in the river up the river.
3.To dismantle the metallic construction in the upper section of the fish passway.
4.To review the water usage permit setting environmental flow, which will ensure the ecosystem balance of Jermuk Hydrological Reserve.
5.To improve the station area, green it and plant trees.
6.To equip an oil-collector under the transformer.
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In 2013 |
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In 2013 |
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The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting reforms in the sector of small hydro power plants through enabling a dialogue between civil society and the Ministry of Nature Protection for sustainable use of river ecosystems” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme".
2013
February 18, 2016 at 14:24