President Serzh Sarkisian being presented a mock-up of the new Thermoelectric Power Station to be built in Yerevan (Photo: Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia)

YEREVAN (Arka)—The Armenian government approved on March 20 the signing of a framework agreement on the design, development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of a new thermoelectric power station (TPS) in the Erebuni district of Yerevan.

According to Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Minister Ashot Manukyan, the new power plant will work to cover the shortage of reactive power that other stations cannot cover. The construction plan for the TPS envisages the design of the power station working on gas, which can produce nearly 250 megawatts of power and has up to 53% general coefficient of efficiency, as well as plans for its development, financing, construction, operation, and technical maintenance. According to officials, the investments will be close to 285 million USD.

The construction will last 26 months and will conclude during the second half of 2019. The construction will create 900 temporary jobs, and after it becomes operational, 200 permanent jobs will be created. The thermoelectric power station and its technical maintenance are designed to last for 20 years.

The construction work for the third line of the double-lane Armenia-Iran 400kw and Armenia-Georgia 400kw new high voltage energy lines will be concluded in 2019. Considering the construction of this new TPS will also be concluded the same year, all this can provide Armenia with an opportunity to ensure a secure supply of electric energy to the neighboring countries, becoming a major player of the energy market in the region.

Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian was present at Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony marking the launch of construction of the new TPS. The station will be built by Italian construction firm Renco.