Ministry of Nature Protection
The problem of SHPPs operating in Armenia is always focused by Nature Protection Ministry. Starting from 2014 up to 2015, when the inspections were suspended, the State Environmental Inspection of Nature Protection Ministry checked 39 SHPPs, which resulted in drawing up administrative fines of 9 million AMD and acts on compensating damage caused to environment.
In 2015 the sanctions imposed by the Inspection resulted in paying 215 million AMD to state budget instead of forecast 110 million.
Despite this, on 1 August 2015 the inspections were suspected by the Armenian Government, nevertheless in 2016 the Nature Protection Ministry together with “EcoLur” NGO implemented “Support to SHPP-relating Reforms through the Dialogue of Public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” project.
The data obtained with the inspections and examining 87 SHPPs within the aforementioned program were analyzed, the findings were discussed by the Ministry working group, SHPP rehabilitation meetings were discussed to correct the detected violations, meetings were held with SHPP directors and problems were discussed during these meetings. Currently rehabilitation programs are in documentation stage and their implementation will start in near future.
Based on the assignments mandatory for execution issued as a result of inspections a number of SHPPs have water-measuring devices installed and fish passways opened (“Eric”, “Khachardzan”, “Surb Aghbyur, “Getik”, “Heghnajur”.)
Starting from 7 September the Nature Protection Ministry, taking into account ecosystem problems arisen from the operation of existing SHPPs on the Gegharot River, started examinations in “Lusarpi” SHPP (operated by “Lusarpi” LLC) planning to proceed to operating “Aragats-1” (operated by “Vacufulo” LLC) and “Gegharot” SHPPs (operated by “Elkas” LLC) followed by the publication dated on 12 September by Pan-Armenian Environmental Front.
“Gegharot” SHPP operated by “Elkas” LLC maintains 50-60 l/s instead of set environmental flow of 120 l/s thus violating the provisions of the water usage permit (in 2014 the company was posed compensation of 51 million AMD for damage caused to environment as a result of the inspections carried out in the company).
“Aragats-1” SHPP operated by “Vacufulo” LLC has environmental flow of 60 l/s set in its water usage permit, meanwhile the video published by the Pan-Armenian Environmental Front on 12 September 2016 shows that the company doesn’t maintain environmental flow thus violating the provisions of the water usage permit. The company has been fined in the amount of 200,000 AMD. (In 2014 as a result of the inspections carried out in this company it was fined in the amount of 300,000 AMD).
Upon Nature Protection Minister’s assignment the Agency of Water Resources Management will review the water usage permits issued to these companies.
September 15, 2016 at 13:07