Deputy Minister: Investigation works in progress on discovering prospective sources of geothermal energy for construction of Geothermal Power Plant in Armenia 

ArmInfo. Investigation works on discovering prospective sources of geothermal energy for construction of  Geothermal Power Plant in Armenia  are in progress currently, Hayk Harutyunyan, the Deputy Minister of Energy  Infrastructures  and Natural resources, told ArmInfo. 

According to Harutyunyan, works are being  implemented  at the geothermal site of Qarqar, but there are also other prospective locations, such as "Gridzor", "Djermaxbjur" and others. An investment project is designed wit financial support of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), and currently geological prospecting works are being carried out. Following Harutyunyan's words, this works are necessary to define the availability of resources, because in the opposite case there will be no opportunity to attract investors.  A 2- 3 mln USD funds are required only for research and mining  works. No one will make such investments, considering the risks existing. That is why the CIF funds have been utilized. The state also deals with this project in the part of co-financing. Last year a good road to the Qarqar site was built, and that road will serve   the construction need, which is estimated at about USD 100 mlm.

Deputy Minister continued, stating that this year mining works down to the depth of 1500 meters were implemented at the Qarqar site. The tests held at the best laboratories on the world, state an availability of 122, 5 C   above zero temperature. Currently works at the second mine are in progress, targeted to reach the depth of 2000 meters. Following different evaluations, the first results are pretty hopeful. There are three mines to be opened.  But if at the 2000 meters depth positive results will be reached, specialists will estimate the necessity of the third mining. The main thing that is obvious is that there are resources available at Qarqar with no doubt. The matter is to decrease al the possible risks. Upon the completion of investigation works, a technical reference of the project will be developed and the contract will be put under the bidding procedure. The prospective capacity of the plant is about 30mWt. The plant is expected to produce 220-250 mln kW/h electric power, which will be equal to 2,4 % of the consumption. It will act as basic, i.e. in 24-7 mode.

To note, according to the information of the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures  and Natural resources, another source f geothermal energy could be Djermaghbjur. The geological research results state that there are resources of hot water at the depth of about 2500-3000 meters existing at Djermaghbjur site.