SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ENERGY SECTOR THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Jan 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Energy and Natural
Resources pays special attention to development of atomic energy,
integration with regional energy systems, ensuring the diversity
of communications and own renewabale energy resources, creation of
a legislative field on reproduction of natural resources and their
complex and efficient use.

By the report submitted to the RA prime minister on January 30, the
construction of Kajaran-Ararat section of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and
the design of a 400 kvt Iran-Armenia transmission line were completed.

Speaking about the shortcomings, the minister Armen Movsisian said that
although the design of the 400-kvt Iran-Armenia line was completed,
the financing program was not signed as German KfW bank decided
to examine once agian the results of the feasibility study. These
results were reconfirmed, and the financing document will be signed
at an Armenian-German forum to be held in May.

It was mentioned that two big projects on construction of hydropower
plants in Lori and Meghri were initiated with the aim of developing
own renewable energy resources. According to the minister, there
was an attempt to implement alternative programs on Lori hydropower
plant, but the work stopped because of the financil crisis. Now the
ministry is working with the World Bank in this direction. The scheme
of financing the Meghri hydropower plant is ready and will be signed
with the representative of Iran’s respective ministry soon. By this
scheme, the Iranian side will make investments in the construction
of Meghri hydropower plant.