APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION IN EARTHQUAKE ZONE PROCEEDS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Dec 7, 2009
GYUMRI, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
on December 7 visited Gyumri in connection with the 21st anniversary
of the 1988 earthquake. He went to Surb Amenaprkich Church damaged
by the earthquake and currently under repair, laid a wreath at the
Memorial to Innocent Victims and Kind Hearts built in the yard of that
church on the 20th anniversary of the earthquake, and attended the
requiem service dedicated to the 21st anniversary of the devastating
earthquake.
Then the president familiarized himself with the construction process
of a sugar refinery in Akhurian community. Invetsments of 90-92 million
dollars have been made so far. It is envisaged putting the sugar
refinery into operation in mid April 2010 and starting sugar production
in mid May. The refinery’s capacity will be about 180 thousand tons
of white sugar produced on the bases of raw material to be imported
from South American countries. In case of working at full capacity,
the sugar refinery can produce 220 thousand tons of white sugar,
whereas the demand of the domestic market makes about 90 thousand
tons. The operation of the sugar plant will allow creating some 1,000
jobs, while in case of increasing the cultivation of sugar beet to
300 thousand tons, 20 thousand people will be provided with jobs.
S. Sargsyan took part in the ceremony to mark the start of gas supply
of 21 communities in Ani, Artik, Ashotsk, and Amasia regions of Shirak
marz (province). The project was implemented with 13.5 million dollars
under the loan agreement signed between Armenia and the OPEC’s Fund
for International Development, and also with the Armenian government’s
co-financing.
The natural gas supply systems have been repaired or constructed in
25 communities of Shirak marz in 2009 under the project. Construction
work in 21 out of 25 communities has already been completed, work
in the remaining 4 communities will finish by late 2009. As a result,
over 21 thousand people in 25 communities will have gas supply. A total
of 2.1 billion drams (about 5.45 million USD) has been invested in the
marz. Deputy Prime Minister of the RA Armen Gevorgian told reporters
that the gas supply problem will be solved in 59 communities of Shirak
marz by the end of this year.
He said that construction of 1,050 apartments will finish in Gyumri by
late 2009, and another 1,980 apartments will be built in the city in
2010. Construction of 520 houses in rural areas of the earthquake zone
will finish this year, and 500 houses will be constructed next year.
Representatives of the opposition such as Chairman of "Republic"
party Aram Sargsyan and Chairman of People’s Party of Armenia Stepan
Demirchian also visited Shirak marz to pay their tribute to the
earthquake victims.