YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Construction work at Yerevan Thermal Power Plant (TPP) has entered a final stage, with the units being put into operation one after another. The energy security of Armenia will increase with this 271-megawatt power station's launching scheduled for 30 April 2010. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan familiarized himself with construction work on September 26. Director General of Yerevan TPP Hovakim Hovhannisian said work is being done in accordance with the contract operations agreement signed with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation which envisages financing of 24 billion yens. The global economic crisis has not affected the process of financing and construction. The general contractor of construction is South Korean GS Enginering and Construction company. It was mentioned that equipment of Alstom and Fuji companies has been installed at the thermal power plant. Fuel consumption at the plant will be two times less than at any power plant in the territory of the former USSR. "Under conditions of a sharp growth in natural gas prices, this reduction is of great importance for the Armenian economy," the director said. RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisian told reporters that putting the power plant into operation will enable to solve problems related to domestic consumption and the export of electric power. The plant will employ about a hundred people. In his words, the number of jobs is conditioned by the current technical opportunities: about 400 people would work at such a plant in the Soviet time.

---