Norwegian-Armenian hydropower cooperation launched in Yerevan

A new broad based Norwegian-Armenian hydropower cooperation project was officially launched in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on November 9th 2011.  Both Norway’s foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Armenia’s foreign minister H. E. Edward Nalbandian took part in the opening conference. The Norwegian consultant company Norsk Energi is leading the project consortium consisting of four companies.

“It is an honour for me to visit Armenia and it is a pleasure for me to address you here today. We are launching an important cooperation project between our two countries. Energy supply and energy security is on the agenda”, Jonas Gahr Støre said in his opening speech.

- We believe it is possible to increase the cooperation between Norway and Armenia in the coming years”, Norway’s foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at the official opening conference on the Norwegian-Armenian hydropower cooperation project in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on November 9th 2011.

Energy security important
The Armenian foreign minister H. E. Edward Nalbandian expressed gratitude for the financial and technical support from Norway.
“Armenia attaches great importance to energy security and the development of small hydropower plants”, Nalbandian said in his speech where he also praised the Norwegian-Armenian cooperation on environment and education.

Norsk Energi has received seven million NOK, about 1.2 million US dollars, in project-funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to Norsk Energi the following companies are participating in the project in Armenia: Sweco, Gauldal Consult, the Armenian company Hydroenergetica and International Centre for Hydropower (ICH), which is located at the technical university NTNU in Trondheim, Norway.

Favourable framework
The Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre pointed out that Armenia has developed a favourable regulatory framework for small hydropower projects. He stressed that transparency and public participation are key elements in hydropower development schemes.

“The bilateral relations between Norway and Armenia are good, and there is scope for more cooperation between our two countries”, Støre said also mentioning a cooperation project on environmental microbiology between the University of Bergen and the State University of Yerevan.
Norway has a special place in Armenia’s history because of Fritjof Nansen's efforts to help refugees and famine victims in Armenia after the First World War and the revolution in Russia. Mr. Støre attended an official ceremony marking the150th birthday of Nansen, and he unveiled a statue of Nansen in Yerevan.

- Armenia appreciates the financial and technical support from Norway”, Armenian foreign minister H.E. Edward Nalbandian stated in his speech at the opening conference on hydropower cooperation between Norway and Armenia in Yerevan on November 9th 2011..

Tveiten is optimistic
Managing director Jon Tveiten in Norsk Energi was one of the speakers at the official opening conference in Yerevan, which also included key professionals from Armenia and Norway.

Tveiten welcomed the cooperation-project with Armenia and praised the authorities in Yerevan for their efforts to facilitate the development of small hydropower plants. “Norway and Armenia have much to learn from each other in this area, and there is reason to believe that the cooperation between our countries will be strengthened”, he stated.

“Both Armenia and Norway have large hydroelectric resources which are of great importance to our countries and peoples when they are properly managed and administered”, he added.

Successful conference
The Norwegian project-leader in Armenia, Ann Iren Glimsdal, from Norsk Energi describes the conference in Yerevan as successful.
“Many existing small hydropower plants in Armenia will be modernized. The national goal is to develop 265 MW of small hydropower plants by 2025.
This is very ambitious. The purpose is to supply the country with more clean energy, secure independence in the energy sector and stimulate economic growth”, Glimsdal says.

“When a sector is developing as fast as in Armenia, it is a challenge to ensure environmental sustainability and put in place schemes that allows for economic growth in the regions. We have established a working group comprising of representatives from the governmental bodies and the civil society in Armenia. The group will assess how environmental and social aspects of the hydropower development schemes can be accounted for in the best possible manner.

Training is important
“The project will also conduct training activities related to project development, modern technology, environmental protection, transparency and participation of civil society.  In addition, support is given to academic collaboration between Norway and Armenia”, she continues.
“Norsk Energi has assisted the technical university at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway, in preparing an application to the Centre for International Cooperation on Higher Education (SIU). This application was granted recently, and will enable Armenian students to study hydropower at NTNU from the autumn of 2012. This exchange is a nice parallel to our project activities, and will be great value for the future development of hydro power in Armenia”, Glimsdal concludes.

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Armenia will build a large number of small hydropower plants in the coming years. At the same time many older plants will be upgraded and produce more clean energy. This plant was built in 1926.