Prime minister orders to look into expediency of building new hydropower plants
27.10.2016,
16:40
Armenia’s prime minister Karen Karapetyan has given today two weeks to relevant government bodies to assess the practicability of building new hydropower plants.
YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Armenia’s prime minister Karen Karapetyan has given today two weeks to relevant government bodies to assess the practicability of building new hydropower plants. He also suggested that pricing for hydropower plants aged 20 and more years be reconsidered in order to mitigate environmental problems. The question will be examined by the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources and the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC).
"If necessary, we should revise a government plan on the development of small hydro power plants, approved by the government in January 2009. It is necessary to check the situation not only of small rivers, but also larger ones - Akhuryan, Dzoraget, Debed, Azat, Arpa and Vorotan," – Karapetyan said.
According to him, in those cases where the number of hydro power plants is more than necessary, the problem should be resolved by limiting the provision of water use licenses.
"Too many hydropower plants have been built in the basins of some rivers, creating serious environmental and other problems," – Karapetyan said.
In 1999-2000 there was a real boom in the country of construction of small hydropower plants, facilitated by preferential tariffs on electricity in the amount of 17.2 drams per 1 kWh without VAT. According to PSRC, in 2015 small hydro power plants accounted for about 13% of the total electricity generation in the country. -0-
"If necessary, we should revise a government plan on the development of small hydro power plants, approved by the government in January 2009. It is necessary to check the situation not only of small rivers, but also larger ones - Akhuryan, Dzoraget, Debed, Azat, Arpa and Vorotan," – Karapetyan said.
According to him, in those cases where the number of hydro power plants is more than necessary, the problem should be resolved by limiting the provision of water use licenses.
"Too many hydropower plants have been built in the basins of some rivers, creating serious environmental and other problems," – Karapetyan said.
In 1999-2000 there was a real boom in the country of construction of small hydropower plants, facilitated by preferential tariffs on electricity in the amount of 17.2 drams per 1 kWh without VAT. According to PSRC, in 2015 small hydro power plants accounted for about 13% of the total electricity generation in the country. -0-
