EcoLur
A new initiative in Armenia – to obtain money for the construction of SHPs in one package: http://www.nature-ic.am/ website displays two projects of SHPs, “Sedvi-1” and “Sedvi-2”. Both projects belong to “Sedvi Energy” company for the financing through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. The presentation has been made by Austrian “Energy Changes Projectenwicklung GmbH” Company. The procedure has its own requirements for the selection of projects – objective environmental impact assessment, absence of damage or its minimality, economic and social benefits.
In case of “Sedvi-1” and “Sedvi-2”, both projects have been submitted in one documentation package. Mainly technical characteristics have been presented, computation methodology has been given, as well as computations on reducing CO2 emissions. The environmental impact assessment, the EIA, have been presented in general view. The description of animal and plant species inhabiting in that particular area, where rivers is drained into the pipe, is missing and assessments of what kind of species may get extinct. Assessment of impact on landscapes is missing. Assessment of seismic risks, probability of landslips is also missing, though Lori Region is characteristic with the fact, that its part is located in landslip zone. The minutes of the public hearings can be found on www.aarhus.am, in the section of Vanadzor Aarhus Center. It can be concluded that the public hearings on both projects were held on one day - 5 December 2011, in Kachachkout and Akor communities, Lori Region. Six people took part in the hearings in Kachachkout and 7 people in Akor. Out of these 7 people – 3 people represent village administration, 1 representative from Nature Protection Ministry and 1 person is the director of “Sedvi Energy” LLC. The minutes show that the director answered to the participants’ numerous questions, nevertheless, neither questions nor answers were recorded in the minutes, it just said that the participants approved the project and environmental measures.
The EIA of Sedvi-1 and Sedvi-2 practically don’t differ from other packages of SHPs. The problems is that Armenia doesn’t have any complex and scientifically substantiated methodology for environmental impact assessment and it’s not clear on which bases the environmental expertise issues positive or negative opinion to this or that project. Methodology for assessment socio-economic assessment is also missing, monitoring data about the situation in the communities, where SHPs operate, also lack.
The risk is if the presented projects get their approval in the frames of CDM under program scheme, we can say goodbye to competent bodies issuing opinions. Other projects submitted under the same program scheme will be automatically passed in package. Based on the CDM decision, access to loans provided by international financial institutions is facilitated, for example, funding by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which has a portfolio on SHPs, i.e. to good bucks.
October 17, 2012 at 14:52