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 “Yeghegis 1” SHPP. “Yeghegis 1” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Vardahovit community, Syunik Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Yeghegis River (length – 47 km). It’s operated by “Bazenq” CJSC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- The SHPP has been operating since 2004.
- According to the company, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 264 m, while according to the the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 242.08 m, according to the project – 228.6 m. According to the project and PSRC certificate, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 5 m3/s. According to the project and PSRC certificate, projected capacity – 9360 and 9950 kW, respectively. According to the PSRC, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 25.02 million kWh, duration of license - 01.06.2004- 01.06.2019, water usage permit 07.06.2011 - 07.06.2014.
- 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.
- “Yeghegis 1” SHPP water intake section includes a dam with 4 sections, through which the water flows into the sand trap. There is a fish passway constructed with pebbles on the right side of the dam.
- The dam has length of 25 meters, height of 4 meters. According to the project, the dam height is 9.5 m and length of 27.5 m.
- There is a fish passway constructed with pebbles and concrete in the SHPP head section, which is 38 meters long, 1.40 meters high and 0.4-0.6 meters wide near the dam. The lower part of the fish passway finishes directly on the road and had no immediate connection with the river at the moment of observation, while the upper part was closed with metallic tin. The fish passway with such a structure can’t ensure the movement of the fish living in the river up the river. The sizes of the fish passway cast down on letting out of environmental flow of 290 l/s set for that section of the river.
- There are no fish-protecting nets in the head section. Instead, there are four garbage-collecting cage nets, each 5.4 meters long, while the distance between the slots is 2.5-3 cm. Such slots can be an obstacle for up to 8-centimer-long fish to find themselves in the pressure pipeline. According to the project, the absence of the fish-protecting net is substantiated with the inexpediency of any fish-protecting measures because of “Arpa Sevan” tunnel and “Elegis” SHPP.
- You can meet brown trout in this part of the Yeghegis River. The availability of the Kura barbell and the South Caucasus Sprilin is possible.
- The SHPP pipeline is made of steel, its length complies with the project data. According to the project, the length of the pipeline is 4070 meters, its diameter is 1.4 meters.
- Percentage correlation of aggregate length of SHPP derivation pipelines (24188 meters) of “Yeghegis 1” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 4000 meters, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2015), “Yeghegnadzor” SHPP (according to the project, it’s length is 3250m, 54m), “Yeghegnadzor SHPP 1” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 2650 meters, according to the project), “Yeghegis 3” (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), “Yeghegis 2” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 2138 meters, according to the project), “Yegheg” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 1924 meters, according to the project), “Goghtanik” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 1400 meters, according to the project), “Yeghegis” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 2450 meters), “Tigran Mets” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 2691 meters), “Khachi Qar” SHPP (the length of the derivation pipeline is 2240 meters) with the length of Yeghegis River makes up 51.46 %.
- The following SHPPs are planned to be constructed on the Yeghegis River: “Alnars” SHPP - “Alnars” LLC developer (according to the PSRC certificate, the length of the pipeline is 2300 meters), “Yeghegnut” SHPP – “VTV Energy” developer (according to the PSRC certificate, the length of the pipeline is 2665 meters), “Elis” SHPP – “Elis HPP” LLC developer (according to the PSRC certificate, the SHPP will be constructed on the Yeghegis and Soghanlu Rivers, the length of the pipelines is 2360,0 and 2288,0 meters).
- According to the water usage permit, “Yeghegis 1” SHPP can take water in all months, annually 54748.5 cum ensuring 0.29 cum/s environmental flow in the river.
- According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Yeghegis 3” SHPP operated for 12 months in 2014 and produced 24925204 kW electricity.
- There are two aggregates installed in the SHPP buildings, which are equipped with synchronous generator of Bulgarian “Mavel” production and a turbine of Czech production, which have high technical efficiency and entirely automated management system. At the moment of observation only one aggregate was operating using 600 l/s water amount and ensuring 1500 kW projected capacity.
- The entirely automated management of the water intake is ensured, which enables also managing environmental flow.
- The transformer substation is fenced, the installed two transformers are not equipped with oil-collecting system.
- The station area is improved and partially greened.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
- No tree planting was planned during the SHPP construction.
- The landscape is not disturbed.
- The discharge of household wastewater is carried out through a water-proof well.
- The SHPP employs 17 people.
- The SHPP is located near to Yeghegnadzor Reserve, a specially protected area of nature.
Proposals
1.To ensure automatic management of environmental flow in the head section, installation of water-measuring devices and online control.
2.To reconstruct the fish passway to ensure the normal movement of the fish.
3.To install a fish-protecting net.
4.To review hydroeconomic estimates, as the SHPP can’t ensure its projected capacity being equipped with up-to-date aggregates.
5.To equip the transformers with oil-collecting system.
6.To carry out greening and improvement works.
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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".
March 18, 2016 at 18:41