Clean energy gives lectures at Armenia’s universities

YEREVAN, May 20./ARKA/. Clean Energy NGO has been giving lectures at Armenia’s university since May 17. The lectures are to raise public awareness about alternative energy challenges for Armenia and propagate the consumption of clean energy sources of the republic, the organization reported to ARKA on Monday. 

 

The first lecture was hosted  at Armenian State Engineering University. Tigran Grigoryan, the organization council member, presented the main tendencies of alternative energy development in different regions, and made parallels with the Armenian reality.  

Grigoryan underscored the importance of sun energy, as Armenia has a vivid advantage over its neighbors and a number of European countries in this sector. 

“On average, sun energy supply makes 1,720 kWh per 1 sq. m a year, whereas in Europe this figure is nearly 1,000 kWh,” according to the organization. 

Wind energy was also in the limelight of the lecture, its potential stands at over 10,000 MW.

Geothermal energy in Armenia was also discussed during the lecture. According to the expert, production of 200 MW of electric power in this sector is pretty real today. 

“As the government is discussing the possible hike in natural gas tariffs, this topic immensely interests the very different circles, and it makes sense. Armenian economy’s cornerstone should be the energy independence and the related to it steps,” said Vahe Davtyan, Clean Energy President. 

He added the lectures will be held in most of Armenia’s universities. 

“We are not going to limit ourselves with higher educational establishments. At the moment, we are negotiating with a number of secondary schools to raise the awareness of our pupils about the fundamentals of the alternative energy,” he noted.  

On May 14, Armenia-based ArmRosgazprom CJSC and Transgaz Ltd. requested Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission to re-evaluate the current natural gas tariff. 

The natural gas tariff is subject to reviewing for the consumers who use up to 10,000 cubic m per month, over 10,000 cubit m per month, for the services of gas supply operator (ArmRosgazprom), gas distribution (ArmRosgazprom) and gas delivery (Transgaz and ArmRosgazprom). 

The tariff per each thousand of cubic meters for the consumers who use up to 10,000 cubic m per month is requested to increase from 132,000 (including VAT)  to 221,000 drams (including VAT). At present, Armenia buys Russian gas at 180 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, the tariff for consumers is 132 drams (about 32 cents).—0-