EcoLur
In the framework of the project entitled “Support to the Reforms of SHPPs through a Dialogue between the Public and The Ministry of Nature Protection of the RA for the Purpose of River Ecosystem Use” the expert group visited “Dzoraget 6” SHPP. “Dzoraget 6” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Katnarat community, Lori Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Dzoraget River (length – 67 km). The SHPP is operated by “VRB” Concern.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
· The SHPP has been operating since 2013.
· “Dzoraget 5” and “Dzoraget 6” SHPPs are considered to be cascade SHPPs. The water flowing out of “Dzoraget 5” SHPP station is directed to the head section of “Dzoraget 6” SHPP through drainage canal.
. The static pressure of the SHPP isn’t mentioned in the project. According to the project, estimated pressure – 65.91, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 4.0 m3/s, projected capacity – 2.109 MW, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee, capacity – 1490 kW . According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 4.2 million kWh. According to the project, the estimated production is 6.01 million kWh, duration of license - 04.09.2013-04.09.2028, water usage permit - 04.04.2014-04.04.2017.
· A dam of 2 meters high and 16 meters long is constructed in the head section.
· A stair-like fish passway made of concrete has been constructed in the section with the following parameters: length – 12.2 meters, width – 0.67-0.70 meters. It has 8 stairs, the height of each is 0.35 meters over the next one, except for the first stair, which is a separate structure higher than the others. The presence of the fish passway in the SHPP doesn’t play any essential role for the movement of the fish, as the river flow is divided for a distance of 50 meters till the water intake point. As a result, a part of the water flows to the water intake point, while the other part continues flow, which is sufficient to ensure the natural movement of the fish upwards and downwards.
· There is a garbage collector of 2.25 meters long; the distance of the slots is 3-4 cm. Fish having 8-9 cm long will appear in the SHPP pipeline through this net.
· There is no fish-protecting net in the SHPP head section.
· You can meet only brown trout (Salmo fario) in the section of Dzoraget River, where the SHPP head section is constructed. If other hydrotechnical structures were not built below the SHPP head section, including three-meter-high dam constructed for the drinking water intake, which doesn’t have any fish passway, you could also meet Kura barbel, the South Caspian sprilin, the Kura bleak.
· According to the water usage permit, the SHPP can take water from Dzoraget during 9 months ensuring environmental flow of 0.3 cum/s in the river.
· According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Dzoraget 6” SHPP operated for 12 months and produced 2595505 kW electricity.
·The projected length of derivation pipeline complies with the factual – 2360 meters, diameter is 1400 mm.
· Improvement and site development works have been carried out in the area of the station line with the requirements posed to the SHPP and project solutions. Greening works haven’t been carried out, as there is no free space: all the space is occupied with aqueducts and turbine substation.
· Only substation area is fenced with a metallic fence.
·Three turbines are not equipped with oil-collecting system.
· Only two turbines are installed instead of projected three produced by local “Tsatryan” LLC, which completely ensure projected capacity.
· According to the project solutions, a toilet has been constructed for the discharge of wastewater with water-proof well.
·There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
· There is a shield for electricity protection in the station.
· There is no automatic management system of the water level in the water intake.
Conclusion
Problems may arise with regulation of environmental flows in low-water seasons. There is drastic need to ensure environmental flow and setting strict control with proper methods.
Proposals
· To carry out rehabilitation works in the head section ensure sufficient environmental flow in the river and free movement of the fish in the river.
· To equip silt separator with a net to hinder the access of small-sized fish into the turbines.
· To review the indicators laid down in the water usage permit and hydrological-economic estimates, particularly 200 l/s environmental flow limit set for the Dzoraget, as it’s low. The fact shall be taken into consideration that drinking water intake is carried out after SHPP water intake.
· To ensure automatic management of environmental flow in the head section and to install measuring devices.
· To install oil-collecting systems under the turbines.
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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".
December 04, 2015 at 18:12