Electric Transmission Line to be Built from Ddmashen to the Georgian Border, Converter Station at the Border - Hakob Vardanyan

The Armenian National Assembly approved the project on ratifying the letter-agreement on the extension of the deadline and modified repayment schedule of the "Caucasus Electric Transmission Network I - Armenia-Georgia Transmission Line/Substations" loan agreement with 72 votes in favor. The issue was presented by the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Hakob Vardanyan.

He informed that the project pertains to a loan of 75 million euros under the loan agreement for the Armenia-Georgia electric parallel link. "The loan agreement envisages the construction of an electric transmission line from Ddmashen to the Georgian border. In Ddmashen, a substation with a voltage of 400-220 kV will be built, and in Ayrum, a converter station at the Armenia-Georgia border, which will enable the Armenian energy system to operate in parallel with both Iran and Georgia as well as Russia simultaneously. This primarily addresses security issues. Currently, our system is only synchronously connected to Iran, and any disruption between the Armenian and Iranian energy systems could lead to serious consequences. It will also facilitate the liberalization of the electricity market," noted Vardanyan.

The Deputy Minister also announced that the third Iran-Armenia electric transmission line is being constructed, for which the construction of the Ddmashen substation is critically necessary; without it, the line cannot be operational. The timelines are strict. If the project's deadlines are not extended by November 30, a penalty of approximately 16 million euros is anticipated. The total cost of the project is currently estimated at 188.2 million euros.