Untapped potential in SHPPs, says Areg Galstyan

“We’ve succeeded in energy, in contradistinction to other spheres. Over past five years we’ve increased the scope of electricity generated by small hydro power plants at least by two times,” Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Areg Galstyan told today’s press conference, presenting Norwegian-Armenian SHPP Technical Capacity Building Program.

He said that currently nearly 5% of home demands on electricity are provided by small HPPs; however, this figure can be doubled.

“In this sphere we have an untapped potential. We can provide 10% of home demands at the expense of small HPPs until 2020. I believe that this figure is quite realistic by 2020,” he added.

It’s worth mentioning that from 2002 to 2009 some 56 small HPPs were operating in Armenia, and in 1998-2002 were added 17 others. This year nearly 70 small HPPs are under construction in Armenia, while 82 are operating.