ArmInfo. American "The Robbins Company" will participate in the project construction of the Shnokhskaya hydro power plant in Armenia. On this occasion, a memorandum on cooperation was signed yesterday at the RA Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Representative of the American company Locke Home and executive director of Debed Hydro LLC David Sahakyan signed the document. Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan and US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills attended the ceremony.
As the Armenian minister noted, the program of construction of Shnokh HPP is an important step towards increasing Armenia's energy security. The project is in line with the country's development strategy. The Executive Body appreciates the fact that the American company will participate in the program. "I want to express my gratitude to the companies Debed Hydro and Robbins" for their participation in this project, "Ashot Manukyan said.
In turn, US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills recalled that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Armenia. "I can not fail to bring as a symbol in this jubilee year what happened today," the US diplomat said. According to the signed document, Robbins will provide the equipment for the project and help with specialists. For the station to conduct an underground diversion tunnel at 22 km in the Shnokh River valley, near the town of Akhtala at the Georgian border. The cost of the project is estimated at $ 150-190 million. The station's capacity will be from 76 to 124 MW, the output is about 500 million kWh per year. More precise parameters will find out the feasibility study, which will be compiled in a few months. Construction will begin in late 2018 and will last 4-5 years. Support for the project in about 15% will be provided by the private non-public investment fund "Armenian Investors Club".