Five new reservoirs will be built in Armenia for approximately 40 billion drams
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YEREVAN, October 24. /ARKA/. Projects for the construction of five new reservoirs in Armenia, worth approximately 40 billion drams, were discussed on Friday at the 7th meeting of the Public Investment Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
According to the press service of the government, the reservoirs are to be built in the settlements of Kasakh in the Armavir region, Yelpin in the Vayots Dzor region, Astghadzor in the Gegharkunik region, and Lichk in the Syunik region. The reservoir in Artik in the Shirak region will be repaired.
The total capacity of the Kasakh reservoir is 10 million m³, increasing water supply to 4,517 hectares of agricultural land, and providing irrigation to an additional 503 hectares. The project cost is 15.4 billion drams.
The total capacity of the Yelpin reservoir will be 0.93 million m³. Water supply will be increased to 132 hectares of agricultural land, irrigation will be provided to an additional 168 hectares, and energy savings of 0.3 million kWh will be achieved. The project cost is estimated at 3.3 billion drams.
The total capacity of the Astghadzor reservoir will be 1.55 million m³, increasing water supply to 210 hectares of agricultural land, providing irrigation to an additional 530 hectares, and achieving annual energy savings of 1.6 million kWh. The project cost is estimated at 7.5 billion drams.
The total capacity of the Artik reservoir will be 1.479 million m³, with an additional 300 hectares of land planned for agricultural use. The project cost is estimated at 5.7 billion drams.
The total capacity of the Lichk Reservoir will be 4 million m³. This is expected to increase water supply to 1,315.8 hectares of agricultural land, provide annual energy savings of 2.1 million kWh, and irrigate an additional 195 hectares of land. The project cost is estimated at 11.4 billion drams.
As a result of these projects, a total of 18 million m³ of water will be accumulated, the actual area of irrigated land will reach 6,175 hectares, and new irrigated land will be brought into agricultural use, amounting to 1,696 hectares.
The projects will benefit approximately 40 communities, with direct and indirect beneficiaries totaling 700,000 people, and annual energy savings of 3.8 million kWh.
"We don't know what the price of water will be in 10 years... Although we can say with certainty that it will rise, not fall—there is no scenario in which the price, value, or importance of water will decrease. Such a scenario simply doesn't exist. Therefore, my understanding is this: where it is possible to accumulate water, it should be accumulated, because where there is water, I am sure some economic activity will develop around it," Pashinyan stated.
The projects have been approved by the Investment Committee and will move into the practical phase.-0-
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