Friday, August 17 2018 17:07

ArmInfo. The geographic location of Armenia is favorable for the implementation of  electricity and energy programs with Iran, Georgia, Russia and the Black Sea countries, Deputy Minister of Energy for electricity and energy affairs Homayoun Haeri stated during the meeting with the Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia, Co- Chairman of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission Artur Grigoryan on August 17.

According to the press service of Armenian Ministry of Energy, Artur  Grigoryan, in turn, stressed that construction of Armenia-Georgia  high-voltage line can play a significant role in the intensification  of the economic cooperation.

In this context, the parties discussed the process of construction of  the third Iran-Armenia power line. The importance of implementing the  project by the general contractor at the proper level and in a timely  manner was stressed.

Earlier Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian in an interview with  the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that Tehran holds talks  with Armenia and Azerbaijan to export electricity to Russia. "We are  seriously following the plan of Iran's accession to the European  electricity networks," Reza Ardakanian said, adding that joining the  European electricity networks through Iran's northern neighbors is  one of the scenarios. Meanwhile, for the entry of Iranian electricity  to the Russian market through the territory of Armenia, it is  necessary to build Armenia-Georgia power transmission line, the  construction project of which, according to available information, is  still delayed. The technical commission on increasing the reliability  of operation and efficiency of the electric power system of Armenia  at the March 15 meeting of this year approved the terms of reference  for the construction of a new power transmission line Armenia-  Georgia. The terms of reference were developed by the German KfW  bank, which is financing the program, and the Fichtner company, which  won the tender for the project consultant.

According to the terms of reference, the project is divided into  several stages. At the first stage, it was planned to modernize the  electric substation with a capacity of 220 KW, build a new substation  with a voltage of 400 KW, and also build a new overhead transmission  line to the Georgian border. At the second stage, it was planned to  build an electrical substation with a voltage of 500 KW. However, in  order to increase the effectiveness of the program, it is now planned  to use existing electric substations, whose modernization is less  expensive than the construction of new ones. At the same time,  already in the existing areas where the electric substation was  planned to be built, a solar power station will be built, the  construction costs of which will be reduced through the use of  existing infrastructures. As a result, the cost of the entire  construction program for Armenia-Georgia electricity transmission  line will be reduced by 30%.

Moreover, the construction of a solar power plant will save another  20% of the funds. It was noted at the commission meeting that the  first stage of the project should be completed no later than the  consturction of the third Iran-Armenia power line. In general, the  program for the construction of the Iran-Armenia power line should be  completed in parallel with the second power unit of the Yerevan  Thermal Power Plant.  Within the framework of the project it is  planned to unite the electric power systems of Armenia and Georgia,  which will promote the development of mutually beneficial regional  cooperation within the framework of the created energy corridor  Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia. The preliminary cost of the construction  program for the Armenia-Georgia power transmission line, according to  FICHTNER's data will be 326.9 million euros, 10% of which is part of  the contribution of Georgia.

The activities are planned to be completed by the end of 2019. Also,  by the end of 2019, the construction of the Iran-Armenia  double-circuit transmission line will be completed, the cost of this  program is $ 107.9 million