EcoLur
On 20 December 2016 the kick-off meeting of the expert group of "Supporting new reforms in SHPP sector through CSO-government dialogue" project was held at EcoLur Press Club. At the meeting the experts discussed the tasks, activities and the workplan of the project.
The expert group of the project includes the representatives of Nature Protection Ministry, Transboundary Joint Secretariat, scholarly, public and legal sectors.
The expert group of the project shall
• Develop “National Policy and Programme for SHPP Sector” draft paper,
• Develop the charter of SHPP Council set up in the frames of the project to ensure the continuity of the Council’s activities,
• Develop a draft amendment to governmental resolution 927-N dated on 30 June 2011 “On Setting Assessments of Drinking and Agricultural Water Demand in Water Basin Areas in the Republic of Armenia, As Well As on Setting Assessment of Environmental Flows”,
• Developing a checking list for the supervision of state environmental inspection in SHPPs,
• Examine the activities of 35 SHPPs on the spot and complete checking lists with the data of field trips.
It should be mentioned this project is the logical continuation of “Support to SHPP-relating reforms through the dialogue of public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems.”
Reminder: in 2014-2016 EcoLur monitored87 SHPPs constructed on 47 rivers in Armenia based on 75 criteria together with Nature Protection Ministry, as a result of which the expert group of that project developed a sample of SHPP ecopassport and presented to RA Nature Protection Ministry and published “Support to SHPP-relating reforms through the dialogue of public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” handbook.
“Sustainable Caucasus” (SCOPES) National Coordinator Armen Gevorgyan, Ichthyologist Samvel Pipoyan - Professor at Biology and Teaching Methodology Department, Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University, Dr. in Biological Sciences, Roza Julhakyan - Head of Department of Accounting and Analysis at Nature Protection Ministry, PhD in Chemical Sciences, Nazik Mkrtchyan - Chief Specialist at Environmental Expertise SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry, Nazik Chzmachyan – Leading Specialist of Basin Planning Management Department of Nature Protection Ministry, and Lawyer Nazeli Vardanyan - Director of “Forests of Armenia” NGO came to the conclusion that the format of “National Policy and Programme for SHPP Sector” draft paper, which shall be developed, should be complied with the format of adopted documents, particularly the formats adopted for the strategy of energy, alternative energy and hydropower development and shall examine relevant documents and resolutions. As a result of the discussions in the exert group a decision was reached to cover the following in the document to be developed:
• Environmental priorities in SHPP development sector,
• Compliance of SHPP development policy with the commitments of climate change and sustainable development policy undertaken by the Armenian Government,
• Existing legislation on small hydropower,
• Compliance of EEU policy in small hydropower and compliance of the European cooperation in ENPI and other forums,
• Extent of sectorial interest in SHPP development,
• Duration, results and implementers of main events (SHPP effective development draft policy or other name) mentioning social and economic conditions and financing opportunities.
The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting new reforms in SHPP sector through CSO-government dialogue” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme".
December 27, 2016 at 13:47