The planned construction works of "Masrik-1" solar photovoltaic station in Mets Masrik settlement of Vardenis consolidated community, Gegharkunik Region, are not being carried out, as Administrative Head of Mets Masrik, Armen Asatryan, said in his conversation with "EcoLur". "The works have been suspended for 2-3 months, absolutely nothing is being done, there is nothing. There have been no visits, I don't know what they think, what can be done, who deals with it," he was puzzled.
"Masrik-1" solar photovoltaic power plant construction project is implemented by consortium of companies "Photovatio Renewable Ventures" B.V. (Fotowatio Renewable Ventures B.V., FRV) (Netherlands) - " FSL Solar S.L." (Kingdom of Spain).
The deadline for the construction of the solar plant is September 1, 2023. According to RA Government's decision N 997-A of June 30, 2022, the construction period of the station was extended by more than one year.
Developer "FRV MASRIK" CJSC was supposed to complete the station on July 1, 2022, but according to the reasons presented by the company, the COVID-19 epidemic and war operations prevented the completion of the works within the specified period.
The construction of the plant also requires the company to undergo a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The positive test conclusion of the environmental impact assessment report of "Masrik-1" solar plant BP 000061 was issued on 17.07.2019.
According to Article 20, Clause 7 of RA Law "On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise", the expert assessment loses its validity if the implementation of the planned activity does not start within one year after the expert assessment was issued. In its letter addressed to RA Environment Minister Hakob Simidyan, EcoLur suggested revoking the expert assessment conclusion of the construction of "Masrik-1" solar power plant, at the same time it was submitted that the plant's EIA report did not consider a number of risks that are a serious threat to the environment during the operation of the plant.
In particular, the issues of e-waste, locating the station on fertile land and building it within the candidate areas of the Emerald network were raised.
In response, RA Environment deputy Minister Tigran Gabrielyan informed by letter N 3/07.4/13313 dated on 05.10.2022. "In response to your letter dated on September 9, 2022, I would like to inform you that according to RA Law "On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise" (hereinafter referred to as the Law), the expert assessment opinion laid down in Article 20(7) loses its validity if the planned activity does not commence within one year after the issuance of expert assessment opinion." An expert assessment opinion is considered invalid by law. According to Clause 6 of the same article of the law, without a positive expert assessment opinion, the adoption of the founding document or the implementation of the planned activity is prohibited."
EcoLur also sent letters about the new EIA process necessary for the construction of the station, the risks of the construction of the station, to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Financial Corporation and the FRV company, which are financing the construction of the "Masrik-1" station.
EcoLur presented the monitoring results and correspondence of "Masrik-1" solar plant construction project to Vardenis municipality.
December 15, 2022 at 15:49