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 “Dzagedzor SHPP 2” SHPP. “Dzagedzor SHPP 2” SHPP is located in Syunik Region, in the administrative area of Lernadzor Community. The SHPP is constructed on the Baghatsjur River, a tributary to the Voghji River (length – 17 km). The Baghatsjur River flows through the forest. The SHPP structures are located next to Zangezour biospheric complex, their location within the complex is not excluded. The SHPP is developed by “Qajaran Montazh” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- The SHPP has been operating since 2013.
- According to the company, the static pressure of the SHPP is 175 m. According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee on 1 January 2016 and the project, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 163.5m. According to the project, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 1.40 m3/s, the PSRC certificate says it’s 1.4 m3/s. According to the project, the projected capacity is 1,877 kW and the PSRC certificate says it’s 1825 kW. According to the PSRC, as of 01.01.2016 the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 6.32 million kWh. The estimated production of the SHPP is 6.50 million kWh according to the project, duration of license - 22.07.2015-22.07.2030, water usage permit - 25.02.2013-25.06.2013.
- The coordinates on water intake and water discharge and height above sea level comply mentioned in the water usage permit with the real coordinates.
- The structures and parameters of the water intake section are deviated from the solutions in the project.
- The length of concrete dam is 8m, its height is 4 m. The sand trap is located in the left part of the dam.
- The fish passway and fish movement ways are missing, but the project planned to have a fish passway. Besides, the riverbed was blocked with a new up to the head section, which also bans the movement of the fish up the river course.
- You can meet mainly the brown trout in the upper reach of the Baghatsjur River, where the SHPP head section is constructed. You may also meet the Kura barbell, as well as the rainbow trout, which is grown in the fish farms located next to the SHPP.
- According to the project, the length of the pipeline is 3053,7 meters and its diameter is 1.02 m. The pipeline is made of steel and it’s buried under the ground.
- The water intake section and pipeline are located in the forest area.
- The aggregate percentage correlation of the SHPP derivation pipeline constructed on the Baghatsjur River with the length of the river makes up 17.96%.
- According to the water usage permit, the SHPP can take water in all 12 months ensuring 0.02 cum/s environmental flow in the river. At the moment of observation, the environmental flow was ensured from the sand trap in the form of extra yields.
- According to the SHPP employee, the SHPP doesn’t operate in the irrigation season, while the project and environmental expertise opinion say that irrigation is not carried out in the section of the river used for the SHPP.
- Automatic management and recording of water intake and environmental flow is not ensured.
- There is one aggregate of joint German and Czech production by “Zinc” Company installed in the SHPP building. At the moment of observation, the SHPP didn’t operate because of little water amounts. According to the SHPP employee, the SHPP ensured its projected capacity of 1825 kW only in May in high-water season. The aggregate can operate with minimum 60 l/s water amount ensuring 30 KW projected capacity.
- The transformer substation is fenced, the transformers are not equipped with oil-collecting system.
- The station area is improved, fenced and greened.
- The discharge of household wastewaters is carried out with the help of a septic well.
- The provided by “Computation Center” CJSC doesn’t contain information about the electricity produced by this SHPP in 2014.
Conclusion
During the visit the SHPP was not operating because of small amount of water in the river. The hydrological data are incorrect. There is no fish passway in the head section. As in case of all other SHPPs operated on the small rivers, the operation of this SHPP shall be stopped in low-water season.
Proposals
- To reconstruct the water intake section to ensure fish movement and environmental flow let out into the river without any obstacles and to construct a fish passway.
- The use of the dam may be refused and to carry out the water intake in another way without blocking the riverbed.
- To review hydroeconomic estimates with a tendency to increase the environmental flow based on the fact the Baghatsjur River flows through the forest.
- To ensure automatic management of environmental flow in the head section, installation of water-measuring devices and online control.
- To ensure solutions to the discharge of the wastewater through a water-proof well or “mini” cleaning station.
- To equip the transformers with oil-collecting 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".
April 14, 2016 at 15:39