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 “Arjut 2” SHPP. “Arjut 2” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Arjut community, Lori Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Pambak River (length –86 km). It’s operated by “Ler ev Jur” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- "Environmental Expertise" SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry RA doesn’t have the project of “Arjut 2” small HPP.
- According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee estimated pressure –28.7m, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 2.8m3/s, projected capacity – 800KW. According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 3.70939888888889 million kWh. Duration of license - 30.07.2004- 30.07.2019, water usage permit - 29.07.2008- 29.07.2014.
- The SHPP has been operating since 2001.
- The SHPP head section is in poor state: metallic constructions are entirely corroded and worn out. Proper structures with their functional significance are missing, including the fish passway, which shall automatically ensure the passage of the environmental flow into the river.
- The water in river is directed to the SHPP for water intake without any regulation, while only excess yields are directed to the river from sand trap.
- The dam has length of 18 meters and height of 2.4 meters.
- Fish-protecting nets are missing in the head section, instead there is a garbage collector with two bars of 2.9 and 3.9 meters length, and the distance between the bars is 5.5-6.0 cm, which can’t prevent the entrance of most fish in the Pambak into the SHPP derivation pipeline.
- There is a special metallic equipment constructed next to the garbage collector, which lets the garbage out into the river.
- The collected garbage was dumped on the river bank.
- The absence of the fish passway in the head section and the dam constructed on the riverbed hinder the migration of the fish species in Pambak up the river.
- You can meet the following fish species in this section of the Pambak River: brown trout, Kura barbel, the South Caspian sprilin, Sevan khramulya (red-listed).
- According to the water usage data, the SHPP can take water from the river during 12 months using annually 79628.400 m3 water, while its doesn’t say anything about environmental flow.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
- There is no automatic management system of water level in the water intake.
- According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Arjut” SHPP operated for 12 months and produced 3044951 kW electricity.
- The length of pressure pipeline is 1880 meters, its diameter is 1400 mm, and its back end, around 100 meters long, is not buried.
- Percentage correlation of aggregate lenght (4435 meters) of 'Arjut 2' SHPP (according to Public Services Regulatory Committee, length of derivation – 587 meters), 'Paros' SHPP (according to project, length of derivation – 1880 meters) and “Spitak” SHPP (according to project, length of derivation – 2555 meters) constructed on the Pambak River with the length of Pambak River makes up 5.15%.
- The station area is fenced, planted with trees, there are numerous artificial lakes.
- Household wastewater is discharged into water-proof well.
- The turbine substation is fenced, two turbines are not equipped with oil-collecting system.
- Locally produced three turbines were installed in the station, which can operate with 2700 l/s estimated water amount in April-May and ensure projected capacity. The generators are of Armenian and Russian production.
- At the moment of the observation, the turbines were not operating, and as the employees said the reason was lack of water, but the SHPP log said it operated every day, even on the day of the expert group’s visit.
Conclusion
“Arjut 2” SHPP head section is in poor state, there is no fish passway, fish protecting net and the environmental flow doesn’t go into the river. The absence of the fish passway in the head section and the dam constructed on the riverbed hinder the migration of the fish species in Pambak up the river, including red-listed one.
Proposals
- To stop SHPP operation and entirely reconstruct water intake section ensuring the automation of environmental flow as a primary condition.
- To ensure automatic management of environmental flow and water intake,
- To ensure online surveillance of environmental flow and water intake,
- To install water-measuring devices for environmental flow and measuring water intake,
- To organize withdrawal of garbage collected in the garbage-collecting bar,
- To equip the turbines with the oil-collecting system,
- To replace the turbines with turbines having higher technical effectiveness to work with less water amount and to have complete automatic management system.
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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 14, 2015 at 17:19