Deputy Minister: HPPs in Armenia face serious problems as water level drops in rivers

ArmInfo. Hydro Power Plants  in Armenia face serious problems as water level drops in rivers,  Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Areg  Galstyan stated at the parliament today. 

According to him, water level is dropping very fast. As a result  owners of small HPPs that have attracted loans from commercial banks  may find themselves on the verge of bankruptcy. For this reason the  Armenian government has made a decision on small HPPs. The Deputy  Minister stressed that measures will be taken to find a solution to  the problem. Besides, there are ecological problems as well, related  to deterioration of ecosystem in water reservoirs. The Deputy  Minister recalled that small HPPs enjoy certain benefits on warranted  purchases for 15 years. 

To note, during the recent government session Prime Minister Karen  Karapetyan instructed the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and  Natural Resources, the Ministry of Nature Protection and Public  Services Regulation Commission within 15 days to check and present  proposals related to providing permissions on water use and licenses  on construction of small HPPs. The Prime Minister particularly noted  that the scheme of small HPP development approved by the government  in January 2009 should be revised.  Proposals should also be  developed on reasonability of giving permissions on construction of  new HPPs on Akhuryan, Dzoraget, Debed, Azat, Arpa and Vorotan rivers. 

As of the beginning of 2016 there are around 150 small HPPs in  Armenia.