MANAGER OF ARMWATERCANAL ENVISAGES TO RAISE WATER TARIFF

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 2004, the French manager of
ArmWaterCanal company has invested 18 mln USD in the system – at
the expense of WB credit resources and its own funds (250 mln drams
or about 806 thousand USD a year). The company’s director general
Patrick Loren told reporters on March 26 that the volume of water
supply has increased as a result of these investments: the average
duration of water supply made 12 hours in 2007 – against 9.5 hours
in 2006. 19 thousand water meters were installed in 2007, and it is
envisaged to install 30 thousand ones in 2008.

P. Loren said that a program on sewage cleaning around Lake Sevan
will be launched jointly with the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) within a month.

According to him, the agreement on ArmWaterCanal’s management expires
this year but they intend to work for another two years.

It was announced that the manager is going to submit a bid for raising
the water tariff (currently making 140 drams) to the RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission.