ALL THE PROGRAMS IN THE SPHERE OF ENERGY TO BE IMPLEMENTED
GEVORG HARUTYUNYAN

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
23 Dec 2008
Armenia

2008 is coming to a close and all the ministries are summing up the
results of their activity. Yesterday the journalists met with the
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan.

The Minister affirmed that the program approved during the previous
year has been implemented with high effectiveness.

"No extraordinary event has taken place during the year. The energy
system has worked with a regular regime. We are well prepared for
continuing our work in the difficult winter conditions.

As we have already planned the construction of the second sector of
Iran-Armenia gas-pipeline (Kajaran-Ararat) is over. Experimentation
works are in process. This is our greatest achievement, because
we have run ahead of the program terms, by 6 six months and we have
consolidated our country’s energy security. In force-majeure situations
we will be able to maintain the stability of our economy and not to
disappoint our people.

As we know a new steam-gas-turbine with combined cycle is under
construction in the platform of Yerevan’s thermal power plant. Armen
Movsisyan said all the problems are solved in this energy knot:
"All the necessary equipments are being imported. The gas turbine is
being experimented in Germany. In January the gas turbine20will be
installed in the new platform.

The installation and the regulation of the equipments will start in
the coming June. In April 2010 the new thermal power plant will be
operated and will join Armenian energy network."

The investigation of uranium mines in the territory of our country
is in process. A. Movsisyan informed us that Russian-Armenian
geological-investigation joint company has been established for the
realization of these works. The funding of this company investigating
the resources of Armenian uranium is solved. The activities in
the field, geo-physical and geological studies are already in
process. The drilling works will start in 2009. At the end of the
year we will possess final data regarding the uranium resources in
Armenia. The technical-economic works linked with the construction of
the energy-block of the new power plant in the platform of Metsamor
power plant is over. The Minister assured that it is a right way to
develop the energy system. "Only the new power plant can serve as an
alternative energy power. The technical parameters, the power, and the
structure of the new power plant are sketched. The document package of
the competition is also ready and has been submitted to the approval of
the government. The competition will be announced in the coming days."

According to A. Movsisyan the new power plant will be the best
expression of modern technologies.20The best world experience in the
spheres of nuclear energy will be employed. The power plant consists
of three principal islets: reactor, turbine, and automatic system. The
best complexes of the world will be employed, in terms of all the
before mentioned three islets.

The new power plant is previewed to build in the platform of the
same Metsamor power plant, because there are all the necessary
substructures here, and plus, we have no problem linked with the
place. It is pointless to look for a new place.

As we know the problems linked with the Georgian roads last August
caused certain crisis but the government managed to avoid serious
negative impacts and to organize the import of the first aid products
to Armenia. The minister said a new alternative and secure road
has been found to avoid deficiency of diesel-fuel, petrol, and
power-generating substances.

"We are holding negotiations with Oil and Gas Ministries in Iran. We
are planning to build a new pipeline from Tavriz oil-refinery to
Armenia, to import oil. The pipeline will join the terminal built in
Yeraskh, and we will not have to import oil by cars. The construction
of the pipeline with 250 mm. diameters and the terminal will start
in spring and will come to a close in two years and will cost 240
dollars. Naturally all the security measures will be maintained,"
A. Movsisyan said.

The Minister assured the programs linked with energy sphere, which
are continual and will not be affected by the world crisis, have
been called into life. "We don’t have any problem that can hinder
the implementation of our programs. Of course we will face problems
in the implementation of the new projects, but we will overcome them.

I’m sure all the projects previewed in the sphere of energy will be
implemented, even the program on exporting energy to Turkey. We have
agreements on exporting energy to Turkey beginning from March-April
and our Turkish partners assure that we will not face any problems
in the framework of these agreements."