EcoLur
“We ensured quantitative development of SHPPs, now we should ensure quality. When we speak about the sustainable development of this field, we shall take into consideration both ecological and economic matters,” Said Hayk Harutyunyan, Energy and Natural Resources Deputy Ministry at “Sustainable Energy Systems in the South Caucasus: Reality or Illusion?” discussion held at the American Univesity of Armenia with the support of Heinrich Böll Foundation (Germany). The Deputy Minister also said that the economic profitability of the SHPPs is not the way as it’s presented, “In reality, most SHPPs are now facing crises because of their own fault. When the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry created a very good field with legislative regulations for the development of SHPPs, in practice the owners of the SHPPs tried to have bigger figures in their water usage permits with different mechanisms without understanding that it’s doesn’t matter what the figure is, if there is no water or when they installed low-quality equipment without thinking it will get worn out in 2-3 years.” Hayk Harutyunyan said they have 60 standards for the technical state of SHPP, which is in introduction stage. He also acknowledged having problems in the fields, as it’s still a developing field, “We should understand whether to produce electricity from gas or from SHPPs: which one is less harmful for environment? The Energy Ministry always stated that inspections should have been stricter. Armenia is a member to the Eurasian Economic Union and any technical amendments is binding for the whole EEU. We are leaders in the SHPP sector and our word is decisive,” the Deputy Minister concluded.
The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting reforms in the sector of small hydro power plants through enabling a dialogue between civil society and the Ministry of Nature Protection for sustainable use of river ecosystems” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme".
March 03, 2016 at 16:45