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A new project involving the OSCE Office in Yerevan to develop the Armenian small hydro power (SHP) sector, promoting environmental sustainability and energy security, was launched in Yerevan today.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan together with the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration will co-chair a working group under the project, which envisages to assess environmental and social impact of SHPs, help train the sector representatives, and develop a sample project.

“Diversifying energy sources is crucial to ensure energy security,” said Carel Hofstra, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “Development of small scale hydro power stations is a priority of Armenia that we support. In order to guarantee long-lasting economic benefits and sustainable development for the country, it is important to consider environmental and social impacts of using renewable energy sources, and the new project will help the authorities in this.”

The OSCE co-chaired working group uniting representatives of the Armenian Ministries of Nature Protection, Territorial Administration, Energy, as well as civil society and experts, will look at the application of new environmental and social standards for SHPs, and discuss such matters as environmental and social impact assessments and ways to increase constructive public participation.

The project will run until 2014. It is funded by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and implemented by Norsk Energi consultancy.