International tender for selection of general contractor for construction of electricity transmission line Armenia-Georgia to be completed in September 2017

ArmInfo. The international tender for the selection of the general contractor for the construction of the Armenia-Georgia electricity transmission line will be completed in September 2017, ArmInfo correspondent was told in the press service of the RA Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources.

The Ministry of Energy recalled that after the completion of the construction and commissioning of the Iran-Armenia and Armenia-Georgia electricity transmission lines, the Republic of Armenia will act as a regional power hub connecting the electric power systems of Iran, Georgia and Russia.

The new government program for 2017-2022 stated that the Iran-Armenia and Armenia-Georgia power lines will be put into operation by the end of 2019. In the framework of the previously launched project for the construction of the Iran-Armenia power line with a voltage of 400 kilovolts, during 2017-2018, works will be completed on the installation of transmission lines, as well as the construction of a substation. The line and the substation are planned to be commissioned in 2019, which will allow to increase the flow of electricity with neighboring Iran by three times.

Until the end of the year, the government intends to finish the project works for the transmission lines Armenia-Georgia. The project will be implemented in 2019. Within the framework of the construction program for the Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Georgia power lines, the government intends to exploit the Iran-Armenia electricity transmission line and the substation by the end of 2019. The power lines will be completed by the end of 2019.

According to ArmInfo, the construction of the Armenia-Georgia power line will connect the electric power systems of Armenia and Georgia as an integral part of the North-South energy corridor. In parallel, the construction of the Iran-Armenia electricity transmission line continues. The total amount of investments in both projects will be about $ 420 million. As a result of the project implementation, interregional communication will be strengthened, mutual flows and electricity trade will increase.

To recall, on June 19, the Government of the country approved its program of activities for 2017-2022, according to which the policy of the Armenian government in the energy sector will be aimed at increasing energy independence and security, ensuring regional integration and sustainable development, based on the further development of nuclear energy and the full use of energy resources of the country, as well as the introduction of energy-efficient modern technologies. According to the text of the program, at this stage the country's energy system not only fully meets the demands of the domestic market, but also has an export potential. At the same time, as part of the government's efforts to liberalize the energy market and search for new regional markets, by the end of 2017 it is planned to develop a program for the liberalization of the electric power system and the development of interstate trade. In addition, by the end of 2020, it is planned to develop a new RA law "On Energy", taking into account the best world experience, and by the end of 2021 - to offer a new perspective program for the development of the electric power system of Armenia for the next 10 years.