Interfax, Russia
June 8 2009

Armenia plans to build electric power line to Turkey

YEREVAN June 8

Armenia plans to build a new electric power line to Turkey, Armenian
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisian told his
country’s parliament on Monday.

"We will start building a new electric power line jointly with Turkey
soon under an agreement to deliver Armenian electricity to that
country," Movsisian said.

A new line is needed to increase electricity exports, he added.

Earlier reports said that the state company Armenian High-Voltage
Power Lines and Turkey’s UNIT signed an agreement on electricity
supplies in September 2008. Under a preliminary accord, Armenia will
directly supply 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to Turkey
each year at the first stage and it will then increase electricity
exports to 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours.

Armenia is intensively integrating itself with the regional energy
grid, and it plans to build a third Iran-Armenia electric power line
and one more Armenia-Georgia electric power line.

"Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are experiencing electricity shortages
and are seen as potential buyers," the minister said.

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