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SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN ARMENIA BACKED BY HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS: ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY
ARMINFO
Friday, October 28, 17:18
Small hydropower plants in Armenia are backed by high-ranking
officials, Inga Zarafyan, Head of EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.
"The statements saying that HPPs are built by some small companies
are not true. Local residents have named some high-ranking officials
from the government, parliamentarians, mayors, representatives of
the prosecutor's office backing these projects," she said.
Zarafyan believes the small HPP construction projects in Armenia are
anti-ecological and often have no environment impact assessment. "Our
water systems are extremely vulnerable. Impact on the rivers and water
resources must be minimal. Some European countries have restricted
the capacities for small HPPs to 5-10 MW, for instance, Norway. We
also had a restriction to 10 MW, but now the government has adopted
a decision to increase it to 30MW," Zarafyan said. In addition,
she added, design engineers use 25-year old data. Despite all this,
the sector of small HPPs is developed under the banner of highly
ecological and renewable energy projects.
Zarafyan made a point of the growing burden on the rivers. Thus,
6 HPPs are at various stages of construction on the River of Getik,
Gegharkunik region. The distance between the HPPs is some 500-600
meters. They occupy 12km of water area amid the nearby agricultural
lands and the Dilijan national park.
"Small HPPs are built on similar projects without any environment
impact assessment and in specially protected areas, such as the River
of Tsav near Shikahogh reserve or on Trchkan Waterfall," she said.
To recall, construction of a small HPP on Trchkan Waterfall was
launched on October 20 arousing discontent of green activists and
environmentalists. The waterfall is a hydrological natural monument
and any economic activity in its area is banned.
ARMINFO
Friday, October 28, 17:18
Small hydropower plants in Armenia are backed by high-ranking
officials, Inga Zarafyan, Head of EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.
"The statements saying that HPPs are built by some small companies
are not true. Local residents have named some high-ranking officials
from the government, parliamentarians, mayors, representatives of
the prosecutor's office backing these projects," she said.
Zarafyan believes the small HPP construction projects in Armenia are
anti-ecological and often have no environment impact assessment. "Our
water systems are extremely vulnerable. Impact on the rivers and water
resources must be minimal. Some European countries have restricted
the capacities for small HPPs to 5-10 MW, for instance, Norway. We
also had a restriction to 10 MW, but now the government has adopted
a decision to increase it to 30MW," Zarafyan said. In addition,
she added, design engineers use 25-year old data. Despite all this,
the sector of small HPPs is developed under the banner of highly
ecological and renewable energy projects.
Zarafyan made a point of the growing burden on the rivers. Thus,
6 HPPs are at various stages of construction on the River of Getik,
Gegharkunik region. The distance between the HPPs is some 500-600
meters. They occupy 12km of water area amid the nearby agricultural
lands and the Dilijan national park.
"Small HPPs are built on similar projects without any environment
impact assessment and in specially protected areas, such as the River
of Tsav near Shikahogh reserve or on Trchkan Waterfall," she said.
To recall, construction of a small HPP on Trchkan Waterfall was
launched on October 20 arousing discontent of green activists and
environmentalists. The waterfall is a hydrological natural monument
and any economic activity in its area is banned.