Syunik Region With Highest Number of SHPPs in Armenia

Syunik Regions is the region with the highest number of small hydropower plants (SHPP) in Armenia, which has 46 SHPPs, out of which 12 are in construction progress. EcoLur had an interview with Environmental Lawyer Arthur Ghazaryan, Chairman of Kapan-based “Union for Protection of Employees’ Rights” on the economic, social and environmental impact of the SHPP in the region.

“There are SHPPs located in the area of Zangezour Biosphere Complex”, which directly affect on the nature. There are also SHPPs constructed in the areas adjacent to the complex, which may cause problems with the ecosystem…Most of our SHPPs are in poor state.”

According to new law “On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise” (EIA), the SHPPs are in the lowest risk category and are not considered as objects having serious impact on environment. The environmental lawyer qualified this point as one of the most surprising and unclear ones, “Starting from the HPP documentation circulation and construction process they have the highest risk zone. The SHPPs must be located on low and not high risk zones.”

Arthur Ghazaryan considered the suspension of inspections by the Government as worrying, in his opinion the Government made its supervision weaker.