Experts: Armenia`s energy security is key component of national  security

ArmInfo.Armenia's energy security is a key component of national security.  This was discussed at the public discussions organized by the Democratic Consolidation  Party, held on December 17, 2022.

During the discussions, it was noted that Armenia is currently facing  many challenges, including in terms of ensuring energy security. And  the new geopolitical realities have shown that the problems of energy  security have become an existential threat for Armenia and require  urgent solutions. Under these conditions, it is important to assess  the existing risks and opportunities, to make this component of  security a political agenda.

"Armenia was not ready for the transformations taking place in the  world, and the energy security of the country today is quite  vulnerable. To solve the tasks we are facing, it is necessary to  ensure the strategic development of the industry, implement targeted  projects aimed at improving the energy security of the country, and  engage energy diplomacy, a key component of which is political will.  The existence of a nuclear power plant in Armenia's energy system,  the construction and operation of a new nuclear power plant after the  completion of the operation of the 2nd power unit of the ANPP, the  full implementation of the North-South Transit Energy Corridor  Project are of strategic importance for the country. Armenia has  experience not only in the operation of a nuclear power plant in the  region, but also in its successful restart>, an expert on energy  security, Candidate of Technical Sciences Artur Avetisyan said.

In turn, Armen Manvelyan, a specialist in energy geopolitics and  international security issues, emphasized the relevance of the topic,  especially now, in the context of the energy crisis in the world. <  Western countries, especially the EU, have begun to abandon Russian  energy resources, gas, oil, because they are convinced that they will  find an alternative to it. Azerbaijan and Turkey are taking advantage  of this situation by trying to become a new market for suppliers in  the region. It is very important for Armenia to work with the Russian  and Iranian sides. For example, there is a shortage of electricity in  Iran in the summer, and there is the same problem in Russia in the  winter. This means that the political component is very important,  and as a result of ill-conceived policies, the country faces  political risks that also affect its energy security. Energy security  is a key component of national security policy, if it is not ensured,  then not only national security, but the entire political component  as a whole becomes vulnerable," Armen Manvelyan noted.

Head of the Department of Thermal Energy and Environmental Protection  of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, Ph.D., Associate  Professor Mary Ghazaryan also stressed the importance of operating a  nuclear power plant, noting that otherwise our country will be  ignored from an energy point of view by both Europe and the United  States.

Expert on international projects, candidate of economic sciences,  associate professor Sos Khachikyan, speaking about the South Caucasus  region, recalled that Turkey announced its intention to become an  "energy hub" and if Russia is going to become the main supplier of  these resources, it is necessary to identify the ways in which these  energy resources can be supplied to Turkey.

The speakers and participants also discussed issues related to  ensuring the energy security of Artsakh and the implementation of  possible projects and measures to prevent an energy crisis in  Artsakh.

Summing up, the experts noted that Armenia, carrying out its energy  diplomacy, should give priority attention not only to global trends  in the field of energy, but also to the directions and programs, the  implementation of which is vital for Armenia. Under the current  realities in the region, relations with Russia, Iran and Georgia in  the field of energy are of a strategic nature, and in the case of  purposeful work, Armenia can form a new culture of cooperation by  implementing new projects, forming relations with India and China  within this framework. There are certain plans for the operation of  power lines along the bottom of the Black Sea, which will connect  Europe with the region. Armenia also has great potential to join this  program.