Head of Energy Ministry and USAID representative discussed new models  of liberalization and electricity market of Armenia

ArmInfo. The Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia, Artur Grigoryan, on June 25 received the Acting Director of the Mission of the USAID, the Director of the Sustainable Development Office Laila Andrews Bachan.

According to the press service of the Ministry, Grigoryan thanked the  UDAID for the successive assistance to the energy sector of Armenia.  He expressed hope that further bilateral cooperation will continue  successfully. Highly appreciating the role of the structure in the  development of various spheres of the Armenian economy, the minister  presented the guest the USAID implementation process for the  construction of the Armenia-Georgia 400-kilovolt transmission line  and a direct-current electric substation.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the program of reforms of  legislation regulating the energy sector, as well as on the issue of  retraining of specialists in the process of building an electrical  substation. The parties also discussed new models of liberalization  and the formation of the electricity market. They expressed their  readiness to implement these programs as soon as possible.

To recall, the program of liberalization of the electricity market of  Armenia, launched in 2017, envisages the introduction of the  institute of an alternative electricity supplier. The consumer will  have the opportunity, in addition to "Electric Networks of Armenia",  to purchase electricity from other suppliers.  Nevertheless, the  "Electric Networks of Armenia" will remain the guaranteed suppliers  of the product. That consumer who does not want to purchase  electricity from alternative suppliers, can continue to receive it  from networks. Another innovation concerns the entry of large  wholesale consumers into the market, which will be able to purchase  electricity directly from generation facilities, import it and use it  for their own needs. Thus, according to the program, the actions of  large wholesale consumers are greatly simplified, the licenses for  which are combined into one. This measure is aimed at regional  integration, which should lead to a significant increase in the  private sector market. The powers of the regulatory bodies,  represented by the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural  Resources of the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on Regulation  of Public Services, are also regulated.