On December 15, the first results of the project entitled "Support to the Reforms of SHPPs through a Dialogue between the Public and the Ministry of Nature Protection of the RA for the Purpose of River Ecosystem Use" were publicized in Yerevan.
Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said at a press conference that a total of 147 small-scale HPPs in Armenia are either operating or are to be put into operation. Under the project, 57 small-scale HPPs were monitored in 8 provinces of the republic.
Most of the small HPPs (32) are located in Syunik province, mostly on the rivers Vorotan, Voghchi and Meghri. Vayots Dzor ranks next.
The findings are deplorable. Zarafyan said that the monitoring revealed rivers, on which two and more small HPPs are built. As a result, up to 50% of the river water runs into the pipes. "This is real destruction of the ecosystem", she said, pointing out, in particular, the rivers Yeghegis and Tandzut.
Another problem revealed in the course of the monitoring concerns the environmental flow. "No water meters have been installed in the 87 HPPs involved in the monitoring. So, there is almost no control over the environmental flow," she said.
It is noteworthy that the construction of a number of HPPs used worn-out or cheap equipment, which cannot meet the requirements of renewable energy development.
In addition, the capacities of many small HPPs exceed the capacities of the rivers.
"The sector of small HPPs should unambiguously undergo serious reforms. The relevant proposals will be sent to the Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection," Zarafyan said.
To note, despite the fact that the small HPPs are presented as an alternative source of energy, several projects have already sparked protests involving the local residents.