ARMENIA HOPES FOR ENERGY EXPORT TO TURKEY, ARMENIAN LEADER STATES
news.am
April 27 2010
Armenia
The international economic crisis affected energy and gas consumption
in Armenia, but the recent economic activity is most likely to have
a positive effect on it, RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated at a
sitting of the Nuclear Energy Security Council on April 27.
The President pointed out 5.5% GDP growth in the first quarter 2010.
Speaking of the rise in the gas price from April 1, 2010, Serzh
Sargsyan stressed that the RA Government objected to a rise in energy
prices for social reasons. However, the Government decided to raise the
price for the electric energy generated by the Armenian nuclear-power
plant (NPP).
The Armenian President emphasized the diversification of the energy
sector and Armenia’s regional energy integration. He pointed out
that Armenia is actively working in this field under the EU Eastern
Partnership program. "Armenia is closely cooperating with Iran, Georgia
and Russia as part of regional energy integration," the Armenian leader
said. He stressed that the reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border
would facilitate regional economic and energy cooperation. However,
said the President, the process was suspended because of the Turkish
authorities’ inactivity. But Armenia still hopes it will export its
energy to Turkey and, through it, to the Middle East. In the context
of regional energy integration, the Armenian President underlined
the necessity for synchronizing the energy grids of Armenia, Iran
and other states of the region. As regards measures to diversify the
energy sector, President Serzh Sargsyan pointed out the construction of
an Iran-Armenia gas main, a steam power plant at the Yerevan thermal
power plant, as well as the construction of 400kwh electric grids in
cooperation with Iran and Georgia.