ARMENIA CAN BECOME REGIONAL LEADER IN POWER INDUSTRY

Noyan Tapan
Oct 24, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Cooperation in the energy sector
is important from the economic point of view both for Russia and
Armenia. Abel Aghanbegian, economist, Academician of the RF Academy
of Sciences expressed this opinion at the round table "The Economies
of Armenia and Russia Today and Tomorrow".

He said that having much surplus of electricity, Armenia can become a
regional leader in the power industry. Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Iraq
are short of electricity so Armenia can sell power in large amounts
and at profitable prices to these countries, including also power from
the operation of the new nuclear power plant and the new efficient
steam-and-gas units at Yerevan Thermal Power Plant, as well as the use
of gas supply in two directions. Besides, Armenia has so far untapped
great opportunities of its water resources and small hydropower plants.

A. Aghanbegian noted that for construction of the new nuclear power
unit, Armenia may use installations of Russian production which are
one of the best in the world. For that reason China intends to start
mass construction of nuclear power plants with Russian installations
with a capacity of 800 megawatts, and the respective agreement has been
signed with Russia. In the words of A. Aghanbegian, a cost-beneficial
nuclear power unit should have a capacity of at least 800 megawatts.