ENERGY DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS OF ARMENIA HANDED OVER TO INTERENERGO FOR
TRUST MANAGEMENT FOR 99 YEARS
YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The Energy Distribution Networks of
Armenia have been handed over to the company Interenergo making part
of RAO EES for trust management for a period of 99
years. Interenergo’s Deputy Director Mikhail Mantrov stated at the
July 22 press conference that the agreement on the deal was signed
with Midland Resources Holding on June 23. It was noted that under the
agreement, the right of property has not been changed and Midland
Resources remains the owner. According to M. Mantrov, no Armenian law
has been broken by this deal. He said that the Armenian government has
not asked them to give it a copy of the agreement. M. Mantrov noted
that the information on the website of RAO EES that 73 mln USD was
allocated for the purchase of the distribution networks was
misunderstanding. At the same time M. Mantrov stated that RAO EES has
serious interests in the international energy sphere. Particularly, it
has its own energy companies in Georgia, Bulgaria and Moldova and is
currently participating in the tender for privatizing Turkey’s
networks. As regards the recent statements of the WB Yerevan Office’s
Director Roger Robinson, M. Mantrov said that ” for the Energy
Distribution Networks, a specialized company with serious investment
and stable financial capacities that would come for a long term rather
than 1-2 years was needed. RAO EES met these satndards.” Director of
Midland Resources Evgeny Gladunchik announced that they will continue
implementing the investment program submitted to the RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission. Asked why a tender had not been held,
he replied: “I am just a director and it is ouside my competence to
answer this question.” In response to the question why RAO EES did not
apply directly to the Armenian government by submitting a bid for
privatization of the networks, M. Mantrov said: “Let’s wait a bit.”