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 Kotayk Region for “Goght 1” and “Goght 2” SHPPs. The SHPPs are constructed on the Azat River (length – 16 km). Small HPPs are located in the administrative area of Goght community, The SHPPs are operated by “Jaghats Dzor” CJSC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out,
· The SHPP has been operated since 2010.
· There is a water intake section for irrigation in the upper reach of Goght Brooklet to Azat River, from where the water flows to Geghardalitch reservoir through the canal. From Geghardalitch reservoir the water has been taken to irrigable areas through the pipeline for dozens of years.
· A water intake section has been constructed below the irrigation water intake section for “Goght 1” and “Goght 2” SHPPs, which collects the water left from irrigation and water let out from Geghardalitch for irrigation.
· The head section of SHPPs is a concrete-made water intake section with slat separator and fish passway. “Goght 2” operates with the water discharged from “Goght” 1, which gets to the station through 2050-meter-long pressure pipeline.
· There is a concrete-made fish passway bottomed with pebbles in the head section. The structure of the fish passway, especially in the lower part, can’t ensure the free movement of the fish (if any). At the moment of observation, the entrance to the fish passway was partially blocked with different items (plastic, remainders of grass etc.)
· According to SHPP employees, you won’t see fish in the part of the Goght River, where SHPP head section is constructed, though the hydrological type of the river complies with the biological requirements of the brown trout - Salmo fario. Regular drying riverbed can’t promote the conservation or recovery of the fish species in the river, which, most probably, is conditioned with non-adherence to the environmental flow of the river.
· The riverbed drastically falls down in a distance of 1-1.5 km below the head section, which shows impossibility of migration from the river to Goght brooklet.
· There are garbage-collecting bars located in the head section.
· The environmental flow is set 0.044 cum/s (44 l/s) in the water usage permit.
· Besides electricity production, “Goght 1” SHPP is also irrigation water transfer system, which also reduced the water losses while transferring through the old worn-out pipeline. In non-irrigation season, the water directly flows from “Goght 1” to “Goght 2” SHPP.
· According to the water usage permit, “Goght 1” SHPP operates for 4 months a year – April, May, June and July. According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Goght 1” SHPP operated for 7 months - from March to September. According to the hydrological and economic computations of “Goght 1” SHPP project, the SHPP shoul have worked during the whole year.
· According to the water usage permit, “Goght 2” SHPP operates for 4 months a year – April, May, June and July. According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Goght 2” SHPP operated for 4 months - from March to June.
· The diameter of “Goght 1” SHPP pressure pipeline complies with the project, but its length makes up around 4400 meters instead of projected 3850. The technical solutions for laying pressure pipeline don’t comply with the project. Under the project, it should have been laid in the trench and covered with soil, but factually it’s surface with the exception of the section when it crosses road sections.
· The diameter, 720 mm, and length, 2050 m, of “Goght 1” SHPP pressure pipeline comply with the project.
· The structures of “Goght 1” SHPP are located in a distance of 100-1500 meters from Khosrov State Reserve, while the structures of “Goght 2” SHPP are located in a distance of 50-1500 meters.
· In line with the requirements and project solutions, development greening and improvement measures have been carried out in the station areas. The area of the stations is fenced with metallic fences and nice stone laying. The fertile soil layer is reclaimed, fruit trees have been planted. In both stations turbine substations are fenced. Two turbines are installed, which are not equipped with oil-collecting wells.
· Two turbines of local production by “Khorda” LLC are installed in “Goght 1” LLC. At the moment of observation only one turbine was operating with 400 l/s yield, which the SHPP employee substantiated with insufficient water in the river. As “Jaghats Dzor” CJSC founder thinks, the SHPP ensured only half of its capacity, as only in May it operates with its projected capacity when both turbines in the SHPP operate.
· Three turbines of local production by “Khorda” LLC are installed in “Goght 2” LLC instead of two projected ones. The SHPP works with low effectiveness, which is conditioned with insufficient water in the river. The economic profitability of “Goght 2” LLC is low. As the business entity is one and after “Goght 1” the water is used for irrigation, i.e. the business entity ensures its economic profit.
· As there is no connection between the operation of “Goght 1” SHPP turbine operation and water level in the head section, decrease in water level results in getting air into the pipeline, which negatively affects on the effective operation of the station.
· According to the project solutions, a toilet with water-proof well is designed for sewage discharge.
· Free water usage requirements were performed.
· Landscape violations are not observed.
· There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
· Partial protection system of turbines is operating in SHPP stations.
· No inspections have even been carried out in the SHPPs.
· Landslides are not observed.
Conclusion
The low productivity of “Goght 1” and “Goght 2” and deviation from projected indicators are conditioned with the following factors: incorrect hydrological studies, non-substantiated hydrological and economic computations, low technical effectiveness of the turbines.
The huge concrete-made structure is not in the harmony with the surrounding nature because of its huge sizes. The fish passway constructed in the SHPP water intake doesn’t serve its purpose. There is no sense to speak about the fish passway or other environmental measures, as they, as a matter of fact, are missing.
Proposals
· To control the environmental flow set for “Goght 1” and “Goght 2” SHPPs through measuring devices.
· To re-equip the stations with turbines having total automatic management system, which will be able to operate also in case of low water in the river.
· To install a water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake and automatic management system of water level.
· To install oil-collectors under the turbines.
· To replace the water intake section from Geghardalitch reservoir to “Goght 1” SHPP with pipes to eliminate water losses.
· To make a number of hydrological corrections and put realistic figures in the water usage permit.
· To determine the cause of riverbed regular drying.
· To discuss the expedience of SHPP operation in such a regime (which currently causes environmental problems) taking into consideration that the SHPP structures are located next to “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve. For this purpose, it’s proposed to completely reconstruct the water intake section with all its infrastructures to ensure non-obstacle passage of sufficient environmental flow in the riverbed.
"Goght 1" small HPP
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“Goght 2” SHPP
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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".
September 23, 2015 at 16:49