Armenia associates hydro facilities with economic development

The rise in the quantity of small hydropower facilities in Armenia is encouraging economic development, according to prime minister Tigran Sarkisian, who stated this at a recent Cabinet session following the Cabinets resolution to alter the classification of some land areas in central Kotayk province from agricultural to industrial. Deputy minister of territorial administration, Vache Terteryan, felt that mini hydropower facilites ought to be constructed on these sites.

Currently, there are 108 small hydropower stations in Armenia with an average capacity of 130 MW, which produce 450 million kWh of energy annually. This constitutes some 10% of the net usage and 8% of the net energy generation in the nation. Nearly 65 more small hydropower facilities are being built. By the last of 2011, the quantity of small hydropower facilities in Armenia will increase to 165 with net capacity of 265 MW and yearly power production of 923 million kWh.