80% of small-scale HPPs of Armenia operate on outdated machinery, Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan has told ArmInfo, referring to the data of the project supporting the reforms in the sector of small-scale HPPs.
The project monitored nearly 90 small HPPs in various provinces of the republic. "In 80% of cases, the equipment used for the HPPs fails to meet the technical standards. The matter concerns outdated and worn- out equipment. For instance, the survey has revealed cases when the construction of small-scale HPPs used the pipes of an old water pipeline," Zarafyan says.
As a result, the small HPPs operate at a big loss. "To generate electric power according to the schedule, the HPPs have to take in much water from the rivers. This is especially disastrous for the river ecosystem given the fact that no water meters are set up at the HPPs," the expert says.
At the same time, Zarafyan admits that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources is concerned over the condition of the equipment for the small-scale HPPs. "Certain standards have been elaborated, but the adoption of the relevant document was delayed due to Armenia's accession to the EEU, because the technical standards in the EEU member states must be common," she says.
The project supporting the reforms in the sector of small-scale HPPs was launched in late 2014. Under the project, nearly 100 small HPPs will receive green passports.
The project is being implemented by EcoLur NGO with the financial support of the GEF Small Grants Programme and UNDP. The total cost of the project is about 60 thsd USD, including 37 thsd USD in grants. The project will last for 16 months.