Yerevan Thermal Power Plant (YTPP) CJSC will be put in operation on April 30, 2010, Hovakim Hovhannisyan, Director General of YTPP told journalists on September 26. The Japan Bank for International Development allocated U.S. $250 million for the YTPP construction that started in July 30, 2008.

“Presently different units of the equipment are tested. RA President drew special attention to the plant arriving to see the process Sept. 26,” Hovhannisyan informed.

The modern YTPP with 272 MW installed capacity will generate electric power at twice-reduced consumption of gas – an unprecedented factor in the region. “The up-to-date technologies of European Alstom and Japanese Fuji (that are found nowhere in CIS) will enable to half the consumption of natural gas which is crucial under the price increase,” Hovhannisyan stated.

RA Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan emphasized YTPP’s key role in Armenian power sector. “The tariff policy as well as generating capacity will be effective and flexible,” he pointed out. The generated power will primarily be allotted for domestic demand. In the past, 400 employees were employed with the plant, however presently it makes 100 people only.

The new YTPP will be more state-of-the-art than the Russia-modernized Hrazdan TPP and the Hrazdan-5 (under construction). Although, the last two will be more effective, generating about 3.5 billion square kW/h annually, the Yerevan TPP – up to 1.5 billion.