SITTING OF CIS ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY COUNCIL FINISHES IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. During the 31st sitting of the CIS
Electricity and Energy Council held on May 29 in Yerevan, more than
ten decisions related to the sector were discussed and adopted. The
council chairman, representative of RAO UES Anatoly Chubais said at
the press conference on the same day that these decisions will help
put into practice the agreement on formation of a common electricity
and energy market of CIS counteries, which was signed in Yalta on May
25. According to him, within a year the CIS countries have to submit
their programs on formation of this market. Ukraine’s representatives,
however, noted that equal conditions should be used with respect to
all countries, which is not so in case of Ukraine. A. Chubais in his
turn said that no changes are expected to occur at once in the sector.

In the words of A. Chubais, Inter RAO UES continues to own assets of
some Armenian companies, and the Russian government will keep this
process under control. He noted that the Armenian government has
not expressed its discontent with the operation of the distribution
networks, even though "many, including Western partners, were not
satisfied that RAO UES will enter Armenia."

The RA deputy minister of energy Areg Galstian said that the
formation of a common energy market will promote rather then
hinder the development of the energy cooperation between Iran and
Armenia. According to him, it is envisaged to build a high-voltage
substation with a capacity of 400 megawatts to Georgia which will
allow to export energy. As regards construction of a new nuclear
power plant in Armenia, the technical task will soon be completed,
which will specify the issues to be discussed for a feasibility study.

In A. Galstian’s words, it is clear to Armenia that a new nuclear
power plant must be constructed, and there is no alternative to it.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress