ArmInfo. Armenia may face electric power isolation. The Director of the Institute for Energy Security, member of the political council of the One Armenia party Vahe Davtyan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"This is a very serious threat, especially given the attraction of credit funds in the total amount of more than $ 300 million for the implementation of the Iran-Armenia and Armenia-Georgia electric power projects. In this light, the project to build high-voltage power lines connecting our country with Iran, Georgia should be considered as part of the formation of the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia energy corridor. A corridor of crucial importance for Armenia's energy security, "he stressed.
According to Davtyan's estimates, this particular corridor is the key to Armenia's connection to external electricity markets, in particular it gives the opportunity to export Armenian electricity to the emerging single market of the EAEU and the Middle East. In this light, the expert assesses the pace of construction of the Armenia-Iran power transmission line as unacceptably slow, especially considering that the construction should have been completed last winter.
Moreover, in the direction of building a similar power line to Georgia, according to his estimates, there is not even a finally approved project. And this is in the context of the practical loss of Armenia's position in the Georgian electricity market, which, however, has its own objective reasons, including Azerbaijani activity in this segment of the Georgian energy market.
In this light, the expert sees the need for the speediest approval and start of the construction project for the power transmission line connecting Armenia with Georgia. Otherwise, according to his forecasts, Armenia has the prospect of seeing Azerbaijan as an electric power regional leader in just a couple of years. According to Davtyan's estimates, Baku is steadily increasing its export of electricity to Georgia and Iran and has already initiated the construction of high-voltage power lines to these countries. In parallel, Azerbaijan is negotiating with Russia on the construction of a nuclear power plant.
"I consider such an activation of Azerbaijan as part of a hybrid war against Armenia. And to counter and win in such a war, we need to clearly recognize the unconditional priority of business interests in modern global politics. In this light, the electricity system is one of the most important pillars of Armenia's national security. Continued reduction in the cost of electricity produced in the country, diversification of the entire system through its combination with alternative energy and as a result stable export of electricity is quite capable of significantly raising the geopolitical status of Armenia. And most importantly to ensure break through the blockade and isolation initiated by Azerbaijan and Turkey, "the expert summed up.