MP from 'My Step' Proposes Ban on Construction of Small Hydro Power Plants in the Central and Immediate Areas of Lake Sevan

MP Varazdat Karapetyan from the 'My Step' faction of the National Assembly of Armenia has proposed amendments to the law on Lake Sevan. The aim of this proposal is to eliminate the negative water balance of the lake and to preserve it as a source of drinking water.

The draft law includes a ban on the construction of small hydropower plants in the central and immediate zones of the lake, as stated in the justification of the proposed legislation.

In particular, the MP suggests several amendments to the law:
“Article 1. The preamble of the Law on Lake Sevan of May 15, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Law') should be rewritten as follows: 'This law establishes the legal and economic foundations of state policy for the normal development, restoration, reproduction (hereinafter referred to as 'reproduction'), preservation, and use of the ecosystem of Lake Sevan, which has strategic importance for the Republic of Armenia in terms of environmental, economic, social, scientific, historical-cultural, aesthetic, health, climatic, recreational (restorative), and spiritual values. Lake Sevan is the strategic reservoir of freshwater in the Republic of Armenia. The primary purpose of this law is to protect Lake Sevan as a source of drinking water. Any use of the lake's water for other purposes (irrigating land, energy production, etc.) shall be subordinate to the primary purpose.'

Article 2. The first part of Article 10 of the Law shall be rewritten as follows: '1. Any type of activity that has a harmful impact on the ecosystem of Lake Sevan is prohibited in the central, immediate, and non-immediate influence zones. The construction of small hydropower plants is prohibited in the central and immediate influence zones.'

Article 3. The words 'except in cases stipulated by law' should be removed from point 'b' of the first paragraph of Article 11 of the Law.

Article 4. This law shall enter into force on the tenth day following its official publication.'

Lake Sevan holds strategic significance for Armenia. It is considered a natural reservoir suitable for drinking water. Between 2008 and 2018, water extraction from Lake Sevan has exceeded the maximum limit of 170 million cubic meters several times. In 2012, amendments to the law on Lake Sevan permitted a negative water balance under certain conditions, which occurred in 2012, 2014, and 2018. The decrease in Lake Sevan's levels, along with rising water temperatures and algae growth, has increased the risk of the freshwater lake becoming swampy and the alteration of its natural regime would disrupt the ecological balance of the lake and its watershed. Experts have calculated that the only prerequisite for stabilizing the ecosystem of Lake Sevan is to increase the volume of the lake and raise the water level.