Public hearings will be held in Armenia’s Lori Region on June 9, 2026, regarding the construction of “Chqnagh-1” Small Hydropower Plant (SHPP) on the Chknagh River by STEPDZOR-1 LLC.
The first public hearing will take place at the Stepanavan Municipality building, while the second will be held at the administrative office of the Urasar settlement.
According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, the Chknagh-1 SHPP is planned to be constructed on the banks of the Chknagh River within the administrative territories of the Stepanavan and Urasar settlements in Lori Region. The installed capacity of the plant will be 4.2 MW, with an average annual electricity generation of 17.74 million kWh.
The project site and adjacent areas are covered with grass and contain shrubs and trees. A total of 60 trees are present, including 35 mature trees that are at least 20 years old. The area also contains scattered pine, hornbeam, fir and other tree species, as well as rosehip, blackberry, sea buckthorn and other shrubs. The existing trees will be cut down, and in compensation the company will plant 60 trees within the project area and approximately 649 additional trees in areas designated by the municipality. The municipality has already granted its consent for tree felling and compensatory tree planting.
According to a letter issued by Hayantar SNCO, approximately 0.13091 hectares of the derivation pipeline route pass through state-owned forest land designated as forest area with shrubland as its functional classification. The company will apply to Hayantar SNCO, in accordance with Armenian legislation, to conclude a forest-use agreement.
Water abstraction will be carried out in accordance with the water-use permit, with a design flow rate of 3.5 cubic meters per second.
At river station 1490.0 m, a dam-type water intake structure is planned. It will consist of a concrete overflow structure of practical profile design. A sedimentation basin and intake structure will be constructed on the left side of the intake. The upstream water level elevation will be 1492.60 m. A fish passage facility is planned on the right side of the dam intake structure.
The project also envisages the construction of a 7,550-meter-long single-line metal derivation pipeline.
The company plans to invest AMD 5 million in environmental protection measures and environmental monitoring activities.
June 09, 2026 at 14:01