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 “Goghtanik” SHPP. “Goghtanik” SHPP is located in Vayots Dzor Region, in the administrative area of Goghtanik community. The SHPP is constructed on the Yeghegis River (length – 47 km). It’s operated by “H.H.N.M.S” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- The SHPP has been operating since February 2013.
- According to the project, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 29.7 m, according to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 October 2015, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 35.35 m. According to PSRC certificate and the project, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 4 m3/s. According to the project, the projected capacity is 986 kW and PSRC certificate says it’s 1202 kW. According to the PSRC, as of October 2015 the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 5.00467 million kWh. The estimated production of the SHPP is 3.49 million kWh according to the project, duration of license - 30.01.2013-30.01.2028, water usage permit 13.03.2013-13.03.2028.
- The real coordinates of the SHPP water intake point and water discharge comply with the coordinates laid down in the water usage permit.
- “Goghtanik” SHPP carries out water intake directly after the water discharge point of “Yeghegis 2” SHPP. The length of the concrete dam of the SHPP is 9 m, its height is 1.3 m.
- There is a stair-like fish passway 1 m wide and 6 m long on the left side of the dam, the entrance of which is artificially raised by 0.5 m with a relevant construction. The fish passway has 7 stairs, each of which is about 0.9 m long. The fish passway can’t entirely ensure the free movement of all the fish species living in the river because of the height of the upper stain, especially small ones: sprat, loach and barbus.
- You can meet the following fish species in this section of Yeghegis River: Kura barbell, Capoeta capoeta (red-listed in Armenia), brown trout, Kura loach, Transcaucasian carp, and rainbow trout.
- According to the project, the length of the steel pipeline is 1400 m, and it’s 1760 m, according to the PSRC certificate, while its diameter is 1420 mm, according to the project and 1400 mm, according to the PSRC certificate. The real length of the pipeline complies with the PSRC data.
- 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, “Goghtanik” SHPP can take water in all months, annually 126132.0 cum ensuring 0.08 cum/s environmental flow in the river. The project sets an environmental flow of 0.12 cum/s. According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Goghtanik” SHPP operated for 12 months in 2014 and produced 4455041 kW electricity.
- The project planned the installation of three aggregates.
- The project planned to have greening, but in reality it hasn’t been carried out.
- The requirements posed to the preservation and use of fertile land haven’t been carried out.
- The requirement of free water usage is not carried out, as the water intake is carried out directly after the water discharge of “Yeghegis 2” through a fenced canal around 30-35 m long.
- The station surroundings was not improved, there was construction and household garbage accumulated, as well as pieces of cloth dirty with transformer oil.
- The automatic management and recording of the water intake is ensured, which is not true for environmental flow.
- At the moment of observation, 1.7 m3/s water wat taken from the river according to the ultrasound measuring device installed at the beginning part of the SHPP pipeline.
- This SHPP makes use of the water taken out to Yeghegis River from Arpa-Sevan tunnel.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
- In 2014 the State Environmental Inspection made a decision to impose an administrative fine of 200,000 AMD on “Goghtanik” SHPP for the violation of the provisions of Article 37 of RA Water Code and an assignment was given to install a water-measuring device by 01.04.2015.
- The closest specially protected area of nature is “Yeghegnadzor” reserve, the location of which is the river basin of the right-wind tributary Yeghegis to the Arpa River, Vayots Dzor Region, 1200-2800 meters above sea level.
Proposals
- To ensure automatic management of environmental flow in the head section, installation of water-measuring devices and online control.
- To review hydroeconomic estimates to increase the environmental flow, as the environmental flow of 0.08 cum/s is not sufficient for the Yeghegis River and it can’t ensure the natural state of the river and biodiversity.
- To calculate the real amount of the water flowing in the Yeghegis River taking into consideration the water amount let out into the Yeghegis River from the Kechut reservoir through Arpa-Sevan tunnel.
- To improve and green the SHPP station area.
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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".
April 04, 2016 at 19:33