Armenia to improve energy security using renewable resources

Armenia plans to improve energy security using renewable resources,
ARKA reports, citing the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Armen Movsisyan.

Yerevan holds Renewable Energy Week on October 5-8.

Movsisyan said that Armenia has hydro, wind and sun resources. He said
that the 94 operating small hydro electric plants produce 385 million
kilowatts of energy per hour. The minister also said that an Italian
company will build a wind power plant producing 20 megawatts in the
Karache Shirak region.

Movsisyan said that the policy of the ministry is aimed at providing
energy for reasonable prices. 1 kilowatt per hour should cost a
minimum of 60 drams.

He clarified that 3% of the total energy consumed is produced by
renewable resources, in 10-15 years they plan to make it 10%.

Armenia was producing 4,380 million kilowatts per hour in
January-August, which is by 17.1% more than at the same period last
year. Heat and energy plants increased production by 45.1%, making 656
million kilowatts. Hydro plants increased production by 40.6%, making
1880.5 million kilowatts per hour.

Wind power plants produced 2.6 million kilowatts per hour, which is an
increase of 7.1% compared with the same period in 2009. Wind power
plants produce 0.1% of total energy in Armenia. Armenia produced 416
800 GJ of heat energy in January-August.