YEVGENY GLADUNCHIK: ELECTRICITY TARIFF WILL ALSO INCREASE IN PARALLEL WITH RISE IN GAS PRICE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The electricity tariff will
also increase in parallel with a rise in the gas price in Armenia,
the director general of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) company
Yevgeny Gladunchik said at the December 21 press conference.

Accoridng to him, 36-37 million USD has been invested in the networks
this year, and it is planned to invest the same amout in 2008. Thanks
to investments made this year, cables were changed in Yerevan,
technical re-equipment of the system was done, as well as a number
of pilot programs on reduction of power losses were implemented.

Electricity consumption has grown by 5% in 2007 as compared with
last year.

It was also mentioned that in 2001, the payment collection made 70%
under conditions of 35% power losses, while this year these indices
made 100% and 12.8% respectively.

Y. Gladunchik said that an international tender has been announced for
repairs of 110 kw substations, in which four companies: Swedish-Swiss
ABB, Siemens, as well as a Russian company and a Chinese one took
part. The technical proposals submitted by these companies are
now being examined, and the winner will be announced in February
2008. At the same time he informed those present that only 13 out of
the envisaged 33 substations will be repaired due to an increase in
equipment prices. The sum necessary for this work (34 million USD) will
be provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Electric Networks of Armenia has created its three-language (Armenian,
Russian, English) website: whose visitors may also get
information about their monthly electricity consumtion and payments
to be made.
From: Baghdasarian