ArmInfo.The new thermal power unit of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant ("Yerevan-2") will be in Armenia the first funded project on power plants with the production of environmentally clean electricity at extremely low prices. Head of the representative office of Siemens AG in Armenia Georgy Karapetyan in a conversation with the ArmInfo correspondent informed about this.
To recall, on July 12, an official ceremony was held in Yerevan to start the construction of a new thermal power unit at the Yerevan TPP. Siemens AG is also involved in the project implementation.
According to George Karapetyan, negotiations on the construction of the power unit in the neighborhood of the first unitof the new Yerevan Thermal Power Plant between the RA government and the Italian company Renco began three years ago, but the final agreement was signed only on November 13, 2018. The new combined cycle power plant will have a power of 250 megawatts and it is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2021. Siemens will supply the power unit for the new combined cycle power plant. The company will also operate and maintain the station for 25 years. Siemens supplies include a power unit consisting of a gas turbine, a steam turbine, two generators and a boiler for heat recovery. In addition to the operation of the power plant, and its maintenance for 25 years, the Agreement on operation and maintenance also includes diagnostic services, technical support from a remote center of expertise and remote control. "This is the largest single order Siemens has ever received from Armenia. Siemens Financial Services (SFS) owns a 40% stake in the developer ArmPower, created specifically for this project. Financial participation of SFS (Siemens Financial Services) in the design company ArmPower was crucial to the implementation of this project and to ensure successful financing, "said George Karapetyan.
According to him, the Italian Renco S.p.A. company engaged in design, procurement and construction, is responsible for the construction of the entire unit, and together with the Italian joint-stock company Simest S.p.A. it owns a 60 percent stake in ArmPower. "Renco has established itself well in Armenia and is active in real estate, as well as in civil and private construction and will act as an investor and contractor, while Siemens participates as a supplier of technologies and services of the ArmPower project company," he noted.
The construction of the station will take about 26 months, which will make it possible to create about 1,200 temporary jobs. After commissioning, 200-250 new permanent jobs will be created. Siemens will take on the task of improving the qualifications of the station staff, about 60 employees will take appropriate training courses at the company's enterprises. The use of modern technologies by Siemens will make it possible to produce electricity at a low cost, the efficiency of the unit will be 54.4%, and the tariff from the new generation facility will be the lowest for such facilities - 5.7 cents or 27.4 drams per 1 kWh. In accordance with the 25-year service agreement, Siemens will provide cost-effective and reliable power generation throughout this period.