ArmInfo. The process of selecting the general contractor for the construction of the Armenia-Georgia power line is underway in Armenia. In a conversation with the ArmInfo correspondent Head of the RA Energy and Natural Resources Department Hayk Badalyan said.
According to him, the construction of the power line, which will connect the electric power systems of Armenia and Georgia, will begin by the end of current year. At the moment, the implementation of the program has entered into a process of practical implementation. In parallel, the construction of the Iran- Armenia electricity transmission line continues. The total investment in both projects will amount to about $ 420 million. As a result of the North-South energy corridor project, which is planned to be implemented in 2019, interregional communications will be strengthened, mutual flows and electricity trade will increase. The creation of the corridor will enable Armenia to become an electric power hub by linking the electric power systems of Iran, Georgia and Russia. "The project documentation package is ready." By the announced tender, the process of selecting the general contractor of the project is underway, after which construction works will start," the head of the department said. As ArmInfo reported earlier, the consultant of the construction project of the electricity transmission line Armenia-Georgia - the company Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG - prepared a tender package for the selection of the general contractor. The project itself is planned to be implemented in three phases. Sources of funding for the first two phases are already known. Within the first two stages, it is planned to build the power transmission line itself with a voltage of 400 kilovolts and two DC substations in Ddmashen and Ayrum, which will allow starting work with the electric power system of Georgia in asynchronous mode. Prior to this, the impact of the project on the environment and social impact was assessed.
The preliminary cost of the program, according to the company FICHTNER will be 326.9 million EUR, 10% of which is part of the contribution of Georgia. The project is planned to be implemented in several stages. At the first stage, it is planned to build a conversion substation in Ayrum and a 500 kilovolt air line 8 km long towards Georgia. The second stage involves the construction of a 400-kilovolt electrical substation with a single transformer near the village of Ddmashen and a 400-kilovolt air-line, which will make it possible to exchange 350 megawatts of electricity. Then a module will be installed in Ayrum, and a second transformer will be installed in Ddmashen to support a 700 megawatt capacity. Based on the requirements of market and regional cooperation, at the final stage, the third stage will be installed the second DC module, which will make it possible to increase capacity to 1050 megawatts. The first two stages of the program are estimated at 188.2 million EUR. Sources of the necessary funds for their financing have already been determined. To this end, in 2014-2015, three loan agreements were signed. In particular, 168 million EUR were allocated by the German bank KfW as a loan, the European Investment Bank provided another 10 million EUR. It is expected to receive another 10 million EUR in the form of a grant from the European Commission. The first two stages of the program are envisaged to be implemented in parallel mode. The works are carried out in accordance with the established schedule, according to which construction works will begin in late 2017 and will be completed by the end of 2019.