Thursday, August 29 2019 18:39

ArmInfo.Creation of capacities replacing the Armenian nuclear power plant in conditions of parallel continuation of its operation is quite feasible. A similar opinion  was expressed by ArmInfo Director of the Institute for Energy Security Vahe Davtyan.

The other day, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated that  the goal of the Armenian government is not to close the Metsamor NPP,  but to create appropriate replacement capacities.  "In general, this  goal looks quite feasible. Moreover, even in conditions where the  share of renewable energy does not reach 1% in Armenia. Of course,  without taking into account the electricity generated by small  hydropower plants. I can say that there is already a certain movement  in this direction - the new government program emphasizes the need to  increase the share of solar energy in the total generation structure  to 10% by 2022, "he said.

According to Davtyan, among the practical steps in this direction is  the implementation of a number of programs for the construction of  solar power plants with a total projected capacity of over 200 MW.   Significant steps are being taken towards the modernization of  thermal energy. The construction of a 250 MW thermal power plant  began in Yerevan, designed to replace the outdated Hrazdan thermal  power station in two years. At the same time, the expert noted that  the concept of energy security, adopted back in 2011, has long failed  to meet new challenges in this area, given that in recent years, much  has changed both in the domestic and regional markets. In particular,  according to his estimates, a new player appeared on the electricity  market of the South Caucasus - Azerbaijan, which actively  synchronizes the energy systems of Iran and Russia through its  infrastructure. Baku is also trying to create the  Georgia-Russia-Azerbaijan electric power axis.

"Against this background, the existing model of the energy system of  Armenia has not changed almost since the launch of the Armenian NPP.  The Armenian model is based on the redundancy of generating  capacities and, therefore, is aimed at export. In this light, imagine  the development and normal functioning of the Armenian energy  industry in the absence of sustainable exporting electricity and  pursuing a socially oriented tariff policy is extremely  difficult.Unfortunately, today, like all the recent years, concrete  steps have been taken to lobby for Armenia's interests no external  energy markets are being undertaken, "the expert concluded.