EcoLur
In the framework of the project entitled “Support to SHPP-relating Reforms Through the Dialogue of Public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” the expert group visited “Shaghat” SHPP. “Shaghat” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Shaghat community, Syunik Region. According to the water usage permit, the SHPP carries out water intake from Aragil River, a tributary to the Vorotan. It’s operated by “Shaghat” LLC. At the moment of observation the SHPP was not operating.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- According to the project, the static pressure of the SHPP is 31.1 m, estimated pressure –20.2 m. The estimated yield used by the SHPP is 0.35 m3/s, projected capacity – 55 kW, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 0.169015 million kWh, according to the project, the estimated production is 2.83 million kWh, duration of license - 227.09.2007- 27.09.2022, water usage permit -27.01.2012 - 27. 01.2015.
- According to the water usage permit, “Shaghat” SHPP can operate for 12 months and can use 15465.6 cum water ensuring 0.04 cum/s environmental flow in the river.
- According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Shaghat” SHPP operated for 10 months in 2014 and produced 151538 kW electricity.
- The water intake is carried out from the Aragil River with dam system in a distance of 60 meters from “Getap” SHPP water discharge point.
- The length of dam in the SHPP is 15 meters, height – 1.45 meters instead of projected 24 meters length and 0.4 meters height.
- At the moment of observation the four-stair fish passway was entirely broken off the dam and sunk in the river, most probable, it happened long ago.
- There are 10-centimeter-wide cage nets on the right corner of the dam in front of the sand trap, through which the fish can flow into the pipeline. The fishing net is missing.
- A 20-centimeter-diameter hole is opened from the sand trap, most probable for the environmental flow.
- You can meet brown trout, the Kura barbell, the South Caucasus Sprilin in the Aragil River. Penetration of the rainbow trout and the Prussian carp is possible.
- Automatic management and registration of the SHPP water intake and environmental flow is not ensured.
- According to the project, the length of the derivation pipeline is 1263 meters, while according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee, it’s 80.0 and 1283.0 meters, while the diameter coincides in two documents - 530 mm and 720 mm. The pipeline is not buries.
- As designed in the project, there is one turbine installed in the station.
- There is one transformer installed in the transformer substation.
- The station area is greened, but not fenced.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
Proposals
- To reconstruct the head section ensuring conditions for the normal movement of the fish and to install a fish-protecting net.
- To refuse from the dam method and to carry out the water intake in another method without blocking the riverbed.
- To examine to what extent the environmental flow of 0.04 cum/s set in the water usage permit is sufficient for the vital activities of the given river and surrounding ecosystem.
- To bury the pipeline under the ground.
- To fence, improve, green and plant trees in the station area.
- To specify the SHPP coordinates.
- To ensure automatic management of environmental flow, installation of water-measuring devices and online control.
- To re-equip the station and to install an up-to-date and efficient turbine.
- To ensure total automatic management.
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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".
February 12, 2016 at 18:00