Head of PSRC: Frequent power outages are not a consequence of the  post-war situation

ArmInfo.Frequent power outages are not a consequence of the post-war situation, Chairman of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) of Armenia Garegin  Baghramyan said on October 20 in an interview with journalists.

"Interruptions in the supply of electricity were recorded in the  summer months and were associated with the congestion of the system.  Now there is no such problem," Baghramyan assured.

At the same time, according to the head of the Commission, this is in  no way connected with the situation in the post-war energy system of  Armenia. "The post-war situation only led to a reduction in the  supply of cheap electricity by 300 million kWh, but this did not in  any way affect the operation of the power system and was not  associated with outages," he said.

The main reason for the shutdowns, as Bagramyan explained, is the  temporary shutdown of the Armenian NPP and the absence of Hrazdan-5  in the electric power system. According to him, in the summer, when  the system was overloaded due to the total operation of air  conditioners, the deficit of electricity was replenished by the old  Hrazdan power unit, which is to be closed today or tomorrow. And,  since it is more difficult for TPPs to gain the necessary capacity in  the heat, interruptions in the provision of the necessary capacities  were recorded, the head of the Regulator pointed out.

As Baghramyan assured, after the completion of complex negotiations  with the Russian "Gazprom", after the connection of "Hrazdan-5" to  the electric power system, as well as the launch of a completely new  thermal power plant in Yerevan, scheduled for December this year,  there will be no power outages.

Earlier it became known that due to the overhaul of the gas turbine   unit, the operation of the Hrazdan-5 TPP was temporarily suspended.   According to the project for the modernization of the station, the   export of electricity was envisaged (taking into account the large   capacity (467 MW) and the small demand for electricity in Armenia).   It was planned to organize export using the Iran-Armenia power   transmission line under construction, but the project has not yet   been completed. The preliminary cost of the renovation will be about   16 million euros, which are not compensated by the electricity  tariffs proposed by the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC)   of Armenia.  According to the project for the modernization of the   station, the export of electricity was envisaged (taking into account   the large capacity (467 MW) and the small demand for electricity in   Armenia). It was planned to organize export using the Iran-Armenia   power transmission line under construction, but the project has not   yet been completed. In the absence of this line, the Hrazdan-5   station operated at 30% of its capacity, which led to losses and the   formation of a loan of about 100 million dollars, as well as the need   to attract an additional 16 million euros for repairs.  

To recall, on November 13, 2019, an agreement was signed in Yerevan   on the construction of a new heating unit with a combined gas cycle   to be built on the territory adjacent to the Yerevan TPP.    Construction work will take 25 months. 1200 people will be involved   in the project implementation process, another 230-250 people will be  provided with permanent work and high wages during the operation of   the unit. As a result of intensive two-month negotiations with Renko   company, it was possible to reach an agreement on the electricity   tariff - it will amount to 5.7 cents per 1 kW / h instead of the   previously agreed tariff of 6.02 cents. Thus, the cost of the future   generation facility will become the lowest among similar units   operating in Armenia and will amount to 27.4 AMD per 1 kW / h of   electricity. For example, the tariff from the fifth unit of the   Hrazdan TPP is 31.5 drams, and from the current unit at the Yerevan   TPP- 29.4 AMD. Thus, $ 6.4 million will be saved monthly. The best   efficient technologies will be used during construction, and the   efficiency will be 53%, while this indicator of the fifth unit of the  Hrazdan TPP is 44%, and the Yerevan TPP - 49%. The total investment   will amount to $ 250 million.