GAS SUPPLY IN THE REPUBLIC

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
08 Dec 04

At the beginning of our talk with the executive director of
“Artsakhgas” State CJSC Maxim Mirzoyan we touched upon the situation
in the sphere. In ten months of the year 2004 the number of natural
gas users in the republic grew by 1428, and thereby against the same
period in the previous year additional 78 million drams were paid to
the state budget. And in the past 18 months 809 flats in Stepanakert
were connected to the gas supply system. There were problems because
the majority of these flats were on the outskirts of the town. “On
the whole gasification of the capital may be considered complete
except for detached houses and three dormitories located far from
the main supply system,” said Maxim Mirzoyan. The question of these
remains unsolved because there are problems of usage security to be
solved. Maxim Mirzoyan drew attention to the installation of a new type
of gas stoves in block houses, which are safe to use. Already more
than 650 stoves have been installed. “Figuratively speaking, it means
saving 650 lorries of wood thereby saving the forest,” concludes the
executive director. In reference to the problem number 1 of Stepanakert
(that is, the worn-out underground pipeline which is already 25 years
old) M. Mirzoyan said that in the mentioned period 30 per cent of the
pipeline was replaced. The same cannot be said about gas distribution
booths, the replacement of which requires 200 million drams. “Today we
lay an emphasis on the regions,â~@~] says the head of ‘Artsakhgas’. In
the region of Martouni five contractors carry out the installation
of the gas pipelines and lateral gas pipelines. Gasification works
are carried out in 12 communities of the region. Two automatic gas
distribution booths have been installed in the villages Chartar
and Karmir Shuka, which will enable 100 per cent gas supply of all
the villages of the region. In the regional center low-pressure
reducers were installed most of which supply gas to 600 flats. In
parallel three medium-pressure gas reducers were placed to supply
five offices. On the whole, about 100 km of gas pipeline was built.
The schools of the villages of Shekher and Herher are heated on gas
(the school of the village of Chldran in Martakert is also heated on
gas). According to Maxim Mirzoyan, in 2005 the installation of the
pipelines of the regional center, as well as the villages of Gishi,
Khnushinak, Spitakashen, Chartar, Karmir Shuka, Taghavard will be
completed. In 2004 the number of gas users in the regional center
increased by 284, and in another 300 flats the local network has
been installed. Low-pressure pipelines were built in 17 communities
of Askeran. All the communities of the region of Shoushi except for
the small village Tsaghkadzor have gas supply. The most part of the
inhabited houses of Shoushi has natural gas. The work done here in 2004
costs 10 million drams, and another 116 families have gas supply. In
total, there are 523 users in the regional center and 298 users in
the villages. In 2005 again works of 10 million drams will be carried
out in the region. It is planned to provide the regional hospital with
gas, which means that the blocks situated along the pipeline will also
have gas supply. Despite the undeniable contribution of the region of
Martakert in the GDP of Nagorni Karabakh the region was not gasified
during the Soviet years. Today only the village of Vank has gas supply
(the gasometers were provided to the villagers by the benefactors
from Toronto through the all-Armenian foundation “Hayastan”. The
infrastructures of the villages Tsmakahogh and Shahmasur are ready
for use. In 2005 it is planned to include the region of Hadrout,
low-pressure pipelines will be installed in the villages Drakhtik,
Azokh, Mets Tagher and Togh.

NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN. 08-12-2004

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress