The State of the National Transmission System in the Republic of Armenia: Key Issues and the State of Regulation in Transmission ss AMAYAK AMIRAGHYAN Head of Legal and Licensing i Department t PSRC Republic of Armenia 18 October 2010 Carmel, Indiana, USA
In the Republic of farmenia market relations are regulated by the Law on Energy. The law regulates relations between the state agencies of the Republic of Armenia and economic entities in the field of electricity, including pricing for electricity, licensing in the electricity sector and relations between suppliers and consumers of energy. 2
At present, economic relations between economic entities in the power sector of the Republic of Armenia are conducted according to the Single-buyer model seller. This role is fulfilled by the closed joint-stock company Armenian Power Networks. A system of fdirect agreements on energy sales and purchases has been implemented between generating companies and the distribution company.
Unbundling of network operation, generation and supply In the Republic of Armenia, as a result of restructuring of the vertically integrated state-owned enterprise, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity have been unbundled. Closed joint stock companies of electricity generators have been established, as well as the transmission company and the distribution company. For the purpose p of provision of services, the following entities have been established in the wholesale market the power system operator and the settlement center The distribution closed joint stock company (ZAO) Armenian Power Networks has been privatized. 4
The following energy companies operate in the power market of the Republic of Armenia: ZAO Armenian Power Networks; ZAO Settlement Center; Large generating g enterprises with capacity of 3,255 MW: ZAO Armenian NPP with capacity of 408 MW, ZAO Razdan TPP with capacity of 1,110 MW, ZAO Yerevan CHP with capacity of 550 MW, ZAO Yerevan CHP, steam and power plant with capacity of 220 MW, ZAO MEC with capacity of 561.4 MW, ZAO Vorotan System of HPPs with capacity of 405.4 MW, Additionally, the following energy businesses also operate in the power market: 95 small HPPs, A wind power plant, Biomass-fired power plant, 2 co-generation power plants combined electricity and heat on the basis of thermal energy needs; ZAO High voltage power networks; ZAO Power system operator. 5
Super-grid In the past, Armenia had only a high voltage line of 330 kv, which connected the Razdan HPP with a substation Akstafa (Azerbaijan). A high voltage power transmission line of 220 kv and two high voltage power transmission lines of 110 kv each connect Armenia with Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan). A high voltage power transmission line of 220 kv connects Armenia and Turkey. At present, the existing power transmission lines are not operational, though in terms of technical preparedness from the side of the Republic of Armenia, they are ready to be used. 6
realized unrealized under construction High Voltage Electricity Transmission Lines 7
Today, the following high voltage electricity transmission lines operate in the Republic of Armenia: A high voltage power transmission line of 220 kv and two high voltage power transmission lines of 110 kv each, connecting Armenia with Georgia, Two high voltage power transmission lines of 220 kv each, connecting Armenia and Iran. Two high voltage power transmission lines of 400 kv each are being constructed, prospectively connecting Armenia with Iran. 8
A network of transmission lines with voltage of 220 kv covers practically the whole territory of Armenia and has a length of over 1,400 km. There are 15 network substations. Supply of electricity to domestic consumers in the country is provided through a high voltage transmission network of 110 kv, Including 119 substations, with the total length of about 3,170 km. 9
Electric transmission infrastructure A decision on construction of new transmission network facilities is made by the power transmission company following an agreement about tthe volume of finvestments t. Holders of electricity transmission licenses have the right to provide services on transmission of electricity (capacity) in the territory of the Republic of Armenia and transit of electricity (capacity) to third countries through the territory of the Republic of Armenia. 10
A license for export of electricity (capacity) is issued only in case of saturated domestic market, when export of electricity does not jeopardize the availability of capacity for consumers in the domestic market. Prices for export of electricity (capacity) are not regulated. 11
Commercial activities of the power grid of Armenia are limited as a whole by transactions on sale and purchase of electricity realized for renewable agreements with power grids of Georgia, Nagorny Karabakh and Iran. While there are commercial operations with the Georgian and Nagorny Karabakh power systems, there are net exchange operations with Iran in the following mode: Export of electricity in the summer period and import of the same amount in the winter period". Starting in 2010, imports of electricity from the Republic of Georgia are being envisioned. 12
Thank you for your kind attention! ti