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 “Vorotna” SHPP. “Vorotna” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Vorotan community, Syunik Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Vorotan River (length – 178 km). It’s operated by “Hakobjanyani and Galstyani HPP” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
The “Environmental Expertise” SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry doesn’t have the SHPP construction project.
· The SHPP has been operating since 2005.
· According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 October 2015, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 50.5 m. The estimated yield used by the SHPP is 3 m3/s, projected capacity – 1200 MW, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 7.659021 million kWh, duration of license - 04.05.2015-04.05.2020, water usage permit 04.05.2015-04.05.2020.
· The real coordinates of the SHPP water intake point and height above sea level comply with the coordinates laid down in the water usage permit.
· The water intake is carried out with dam method. The length of the dam is 17 meters, its height is 2.6 meters. The dam is equipped with “Fust Gate” valve.
· There is a cascade-like four-stair fish passway made of concrete 9.8 meters long and around 1.0-1.1 meters wide. Each stair in the fish passway is about 30-50 cm high over each other. The entrance of the fish passway is dammed with a metallic construction around 1.2 meter high, and the water flows to the fish passway through its lower slot. Such structure of the fish passway is not adequate for the migration of most fish living in the river, especially the young fish, as at the moment of observation there were gatherings of the young fish in the head section.
· There is no fish-protecting net: there is an underground garbage collector of 2.0 meters long.
· You can meet the following fish species in the following section of the Vorotan River: brown trout, South Caucasus Sprilin, Kura barbell, Sevan Khramulya (red-listed). Rainbow trout may regularly penetrate from the fish farms.
· According to the PSRC certificate, the length of the derivation pipeline is 3220 meters, while its diameter is 1.42 meters. It’s buries in the observed parts.
· Percentage correlation of aggregate length of SHPP derivation pipelines (16482.37meters) of “Vorotna HPP” (the length of the derivation pipeline is 3220 meters, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015), “Shinuhayr” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 1555 meters, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015), “Apres” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 1700 meters, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015), “Vorotan-7” (the length of the derivation pipeline is 931.37 meters, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015), “Ishkhanasar” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 4356 meters, according to the project), “Mane” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 4720 meters, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015) with the length of Vorotan River makes up 9.25 % (178 km).
· According to the water usage permit, “Vorotna HPP” SHPP can take water in all months, annually 79603.0 cum ensuring 1.1 cum/s environmental flow in the river. At the moment of observation the environmental flow was let out over the dam.
· According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Vorotna” SHPP operated for 12 months in 2014 and produced 9086774 kW electricity.
· There are three turbines installed in the station, out of which only 2 were operating at the moment of observation.
· There is an electric shield installed in the station.
· There is no automatic management and registration of water intake and environmental flow.
· There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
· The transformer substation is fenced, the installed three transformers are not equipped with oil-collecting system.
· The station area is improved, greened and planted with trees.
· The requirements posed to the conservation and use of fertile land layer are fulfilled.
· The landscape is not disturbed.
· Free water usage requirements are complied with.
· The solid wastes collected from the garbage-collector are removed and dumped, according to the SHPP worker.
· There are no garbage bins in the station area.
· There haven’t been any inspections carried out in “Vorotna HPP” SHPP in recent five years.
Proposals
1. To ensure automatic management of environmental flow, installation of water-measuring devices and online control of water intake.
2. To reconstruct the fish passway to ensure normal movement of the fish
3. The dam method should be avoided and the water intake should be carried out through other hydrotechnical solutions.
4. To install up-to-date efficient equipment to ensure entire automatic management to use hydroenergetic reserves most efficiently.
5. To install a fish-protecting net.
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| Photos by Levon Galstyan |
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".
March 16, 2016 at 11:37