Arayik Harutyunyan Addresses the Issue of Hydroelectric Power Plants in Artsakh

The development of the economy and the preservation of nature should not artificially be made into conflicting goals, but instead, a golden mean should be found for their harmonization. This was stated by Arayik Harutyunyan, a candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Artsakh and leader of the 'Free Homeland' party, in a post on his Facebook page, addressing issues related to hydropower in Artsakh.

“The construction of small hydroelectric power plants in Artsakh began in 2008 thanks to the significant efforts made by the government. The opportunity to successfully crown this initiative was at risk, since previously five decisions regarding hydropower construction had been made by the government, all of which remained on paper. Fortunately, we succeeded. It was not easy, as it was difficult to convince Armenian diaspora or, even more so, foreign businessmen to start businesses in our region for long-term significant investments. Nevertheless, we were able to interest them and provide a stable course for a program that would solve the strategic issues regarding ensuring Artsakh’s energy security and self-sufficiency. Through capital investments worth about 300 million USD (most of which came from foreigners ignoring political issues), nearly 500 stable new jobs were created, and the direct and indirect tax revenues to the state budget increased by several billion AMD annually. But the most important achievement was the establishment of a complete system of energy security in Artsakh.

On the issue of cheap tariffs: The thesis of having cheap electricity is often discussed in the public, justifying that electricity is produced in our country. As I mentioned, the HPPs were built thanks to private investments, and the government's tools are limited here. However, the reader should know that households in Artsakh pay 25 drams for 1 KWh of consumed electricity, while our compatriots in the Republic of Armenia pay about 40 drams. Is this comparable? I think not.

Regarding environmental issues: Back in 2008, when I proposed the program for building small HPPs as the head of the Executive branch, I had no reason to carry it out in violation of environmental norms. On the contrary, I always demanded that the relevant authorities grant all construction permits by taking international standards into account. I do not exclude that due to a lack of experience and oversight, there may have indeed been violations at some stage, but my task was not to follow narrow professional work, but rather to implement effective policies and eliminate dependence on foreign energy sources. This was the primary challenge that we successfully overcame.

That said, it should not be an excuse for investors to abuse their mission and opportunities, infringe on public and state interests, and grossly violate the permissible limits established by legislation. Moreover, I believe that the owners of HPPs should assume certain social responsibilities for the damage caused to the environment, not only to minimize it but also to compensate for it. I am confident that the commission to be formed by the government will take into account both environmental issues and the development of adjacent communities and the attractiveness of the investment environment during its research.

I am confident that the mechanism for increasing the sector's efficiency and minimizing negative externalities will be not only the consistent oversight of state and public authorities but also transitioning to larger HPPs. This, of course, requires more investments; however, on the other hand, it provides a positive impact on the environment as well as the opportunity to use these water resources for irrigation purposes. It is no coincidence that construction works for large reservoirs have already begun in the Kashatagh and Martakert regions, which will be used for both energy and agricultural purposes. The ultimate goal of the program is to double the number of jobs in the energy sector in the coming years, reaching 1000, while the revenue coming to the state budget from the sector is expected to be around 10 billion AMD.

Therefore, the development of the economy and the preservation of nature should not be artificially made conflicting goals; instead, we must find a golden mean for their harmonization. To our compatriots who recently declared a hunger strike to fight for the preservation of our homeland's nature, I would urge them to refrain from harming their health and shift the issue to the field of professional work. Ecological issues must always be at the center of our attention, and all our efforts should be united to have stronger oversight mechanisms,” emphasized Arayik Harutyunyan.