Small Decentralized Hydropower Program National ... - Cd3wd.com

Evaluacibn
Dentro de nuestra conception de1 programa de
microcentrales hidroekctricas, la evaluation de las instalaciones
es la de mayor inter& ya que en ella
tiene que originarse el proceso de adquisicidn de conocimientos
y de desarrollo de tecnologia. Anotemos
que la operation de cada uno de 10s sistemas tiene
que conducirnos a una mejor comprension de las interacciones
entre las comunidades y el medio ambiente
de manera a optimizar la utilization de 10s
recursos naturales. En 10s aspectos tecnologicos, la
evaluation de las instalaciones “in situ” debe proveernos
de la information necesaria para mejorar las
caracteristicas de opera&n y mantenimiento, asi
coma tambien el poder orientar 10s programas de
desarrollo industrial previstos.
Un problema general en 10s servicios publicos es el
de tarifas. Dicho de otra manera, no es muy facii
hater pagar al usuario por un servicio al cual no ha
estado acostumbrado y que es ajeno a sus patrones
de comportamiento social. Este puede ser 1.111 factor
importante que debemos tener en cuenta para tratar
de introducirlos en la estructura cultural de1 nuevo
usuario sin atentar contra sus usos y costumbres.
Finalmente la experiencia de microcentrales
hidraulicas tiene que permitirno;; acumular informacion
y aprender a manejar 10s proyectos en funcidn
de la preservation de1 medio ambiente. En 10s
sistemas ecologicos extremadamente sensibles de las
estribaciones de la cordillera, cualquier perturbation
puede producir efectos irreversibles o de muy dificil
recuperacibn. El impact0 ambiental no solo debe
evaluarse en funcion de la estructura fisica sino tambien
de las consecuencias que puede producirse en la
cultura y en 10s habitos de la poblacion.
Aspectos Complementarios
Defmido el marco de referencia de la planificacion
de1 programa de microcentrales, pensamos en la con-
veniencia de comentar los mecanismos de funciona-
miento de1 mismo.
La amplitud de1 problema obliga a una par-
ticipacion multidisciplinaria en la que deben involu-
crarse tanto entidades publicas coma centros de
education superior. Bajo este precepto, la primera ac-
cion concrete ha sido la colaboracion estrecha entre
el Instituto National de Energia y el Instituto
Ecuatoriano de Electrificacidn; luego hemos buscado
contactos con las universidades, principalmente con
la Escuela Politkcnica National y la Escuela Superior
Politkcnica dei Litoral. Es dig-no de anotar que la
falta de lineas de investigation de nuestros Centros
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social behavioral patterns. This may become an
important factor to consider when we are plan-
ning to introduce the service into the cultural pat-
tern of the new consumers without disturbing
their habits and customs.
Finally, experience with micro-hydropower
plants will permit us to accumulate information
and learn to administer projects in keeping with
the preservation of the environment. in the very
sensitive ecosystems in the foothills, any distur-
bance may produce irreversible effects or effects
from which recuperation would be very difficult.
The environmental impact had to be evaluated
not only as a function of physical structures but
also in terms of consequences that may affect
the culture and the customs of the population.
Supplementary Aspects
After defining the reference framework for
planning microhydropower plants, we move on to
evaluate their operation.
The magnitude of the problem demands
multidisciplinary participation involving public en-
tities as well as higher education centers. Under
this precept, the first concrete action has been
the close cooperation bet*ween the National in-
stitute of Energy and the Ecuadorian Eiectrifica-
tion institute. Subsequently, we have sought sup-
port from the universities, mainly the National
Polytechnic School and the superior Litoriai
Polytechnic School. it is remarkable that the lack
of research direction at our higher educational
centers has led to a long term waste of human
and economic resources. Most of the research in
question has been kept at the level of academic
exercises unrelated to national reality. Therefore,
we deem it important to provide guidelines
through programs such as this one to guide the
activities of the research centers and to include
active participation by the students. Even though
we are just in the initial phase of the program,
the interest generated in the university circles is
such that we can judge the results to be positive.
We need to remember, on the other hand, the
need to develop human resources. if the com-
munities are to benefit from the program, it is
necessary for them to take responsibility for
most of it. in some stages of its development,
there will be a need for people with a level cf
knowledge and training of a very specialized
nature which requires education and training Of
the staff.