ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 6 2007

Armenia intends to buildup electric energy generation by small hydro
electric plants

YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. Armenia intends to buildup electric
energy generation by small hydro electric plants up to 10% of demand
for electric energy, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said on
Thursday.

`We have managed to attract private investors’ attention to small
hydro electric plants construction. Thanks to that, some 58 plants
generating the power covering 5% of our domestic demand for electric
energy are already registered in Armenia’, he said.

He said the programs under implementation now will make it possible
to 10% of demanded electric energy in coming two or three years.

`However, our domestic consumption is growing as well, and unlike
nuclear power plants, hydro electric plants can’t work in basis
regime, since hydro resources depend on seasons’, Movsisyan said.

Public Services Regulatory Commission says 58 small hydro electric
plants function in Armenia now.

Their annual output totals 240 million kilowatt/hour.

The commission says 104 small hydro-electric plants of 184 megawatt
capacity are planned to be constructed in Armenia by 2015.

National Statistical Service of Armenia says 4894.6 million
kilowatt/hour of electric power has been generated in Armenia over
the period between January and October 2007. This result is 0.2%
higher than that of the same period a year earlier. M.V.-0–