Since the 2000s, small hydropower plants (SHPPs) have been constructed one after another in the Yeghegis watershed. This growth was fueled by state incentives, including a 15-year guarantee to purchase electricity, high electricity sales prices, assurances for minimum ecological flow, and, ultimately, free use of water resources. International financial organizations also began funding the construction of SHPPs in Armenia under the umbrella of “green” renewable energy, resulting in rivers being heavily burdened by these projects.
Currently, there are 17 SHPPsin Yeghegis consolidated community. As they began operation, river flows started to decrease, fish populations disappeared, river sanitation deteriorated, and the local microclimate changed. Conflicts have arisen between small hydroenergy users and other water users.
“Due to technical interruptions of SHPPs, the entire system starts filling with air, and releasing that air takes 1-2 days until the system stabilizes, and then it repeats,” Hazrapet Nazaryan, Head of “Yeghegnadzor” Water User Association, explained.
“There are far too many SHPPs on the Yeghegis River. This cannot help but have a negative impact,” Anna Danielyan, Secretary of Yeghegis Municipality Staff, noted.
The depletion of water resources by SHPPsis compounded by climate change. “Water use permits were issued in 2002. It’s now 2024; climate change has occurred, and water resources have decreased by 30%, yet they are still operating under the permits issued in 2002. Those permits need to be reviewed,” said Gegham Margaryan, Head of Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Vayots Dzor Region.
“Water exits one HPP only to enter the next HPP pipeline. Our community was one of the richest in water resources, but now our springs have dried up. This is a consequence of the HPPs. There aren’t even frogs left in the river, let alone trout,” Ashot Harutyunyan, Administrative Head of Yeghegis village stated.
SHPPs have no obligations towards the community’s socio-economic development and primarily pay only minimal rental fees, which contribute an insignificant amount to the community’s budget, while their impact is substantial.
Yeghegis Community has come to believe they need to fight for water rights by holding water usage permits, as drinking and irrigation water have legal priority.
To address these revealed issues, the Armenian government, considering civil society recommendations (including those from projects supported by UNDP/GEF’s Small Grants Program, such as "Support to SHPP-relating reforms through the dialogue of public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” and "Supporting new reforms in SHPP sector through CSO-government dialogue" implemented by “EcoLur” NGO), has amended legislative and regulatory acts. The methodology for determining ecological flow was revised, construction of new SHPPs on 25 rivers was prohibited, and a resource usage fee of 0.1 AMD per cubic meter was imposed on SHPPs for water usage. From 2017 to 2019, the average volume of water used by hydropower plants was 6.2 billion cubic meters. Therefore, state budget revenues are expected to increase annually by approximately 620 million AMD.
Whether Yeghegis Community will benefit from the environmental usage fees paid by SHPPs through subsidy programs remains to be seen.
The article was produced with the financial support of the Media Initiatives Center within the framework of "Expanding Production of Independent Content" grant project.
October 28, 2024 at 14:57