GOVERNMENT MUST CONTROL ENERGY SECTOR

Lragir.am
08 April 06

Mher Shahgeldyan, Chair of the Committee of Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, answering to the our news reporter’s question
onthe transfer of the Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan to Russia, said
this deal needs to be viewed from two aspects, political and
economic. `Of course, from the political aspect the Armenian
government must absolutely control its energy sector, especially
strategic energy generation. From the economic aspect, it is possible
that an energy plant, for instance, is co-owned by foreign
companies. Of course, if they are friendly countries, and the
companies are known worldwide. However, it is also a fact, and we have
stated this for a number of times, that for the national security and
energy independence the government must have control and levers of
management.

For economic benefit, it is important that about 600 million dollars
is invested in Armenia, which will enable to operate the fifth
generating unit and export electricity to neighbor countries. As far
as I know, the fifth generating unit was put out to auction formerly,
and there were no buyers willing to make investments to operate it.’