Biodiversity conservation

Case:

Tashlyk Pumped Storage Hydro Station

Region: Ukraine, Mykolaiv oblast, Yuzhnoukrainsk

Essence of case: protection of the right to safe and healthy environment; conservation of biodiversity and protected area of Ukraine

Parties:

Residents of Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv oblast, regional-landscape park ”Granitno-stepove pobuzzya”

SE NNEC “Energoatom,” South-Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant, Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine, Ministry of Environment of Ukraine, Mykolaiv Oblast Rada (Regional Council )

Essence of problem: The government of Ukraine is going to finish the construction of the Tashlyk Pumped Storage Hydro Station (TPSHS), what has to be included into South Ukrainian nuclear power complex. TPSHS is being built with the purpose of extinction of night peak voltage of power circuit.
It is necessary to supply the bottom of the station with water from Pivdennyj Bug to provide full-time operation of TPSHS. It was planned to change the head water level of the Oleksandrivskyi reservoir, what is 8 meters now and can be 16 meters or even 20,7 meters.
Due to raising of water level the high-value lands with rich biodiversity are inundated. In 1996 these lands were included into regional landscape park (RLP) “Granitno-stepove pobuzzya”, on the territory of what national natural park is being constructed.
Construction of TPSHS and raising of the level of Oleksandrivsk reservoir threaten biodiversity conservation of the future national natural park “Granitno-stepove pobuzzya”. Also the lands of Red Book habitats and Bern Convention species of flora and fauna are being inundated. More over, decision- making concerning TPSHS violates the national legislation and international obligations of Ukraine in the sphere of nature protection and public participation process.
Confirmation of the fact, that granite rock, where construction of TPSHS is going to be finished, has damages, is especially dangerous. The pressure of the huge volume of water of new reservoir can cause the further destroying of the rock. Danger of technogenic catastrophe can occur.

The case is considered both on national and international levels

National level:

• challenging of the environmental expertiza regarding the project of Tashlyk Pumped Storage Hydro Station construction
• law-suit on stopping the activity

International level:

• applying to the Secretariat of Bern Convention to protect Bern Convention species of wild fauna and flora