ARMENIA GOING TO RAISE TARIFFS FOR ENERGY EXPORT TO GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - International Energy Corporation (IEC) serving on RAO UES of Russia is going to carry out a $30 rise in tariffs for the export of electric power to Georgia, deputy to IEC general director Mels Hakobian told Arminfo agency. In his words, talks with the Georgian power engineers are being conducted in Yerevan at present. M. Hakobian noted that the rise in prices is conditioned by the fact that the Commission for the regulation of the natural monopolies of Armenia raised the tariffs for the energy supplies still a month ago, thus spontaneously influencing the price of the energy exported. If Telasi company, the owner of the Tbilisian electric network refuses to buy energy at the new price the corporation will stop the delivery, which will become unprofitable for IEC, Hakobian said. 60 Mwatt of energy are being supplied from Armenia to Georgia through Alaverdi power line at present. Meanwhile, as reported to Arminfo agency in the press office of the Commission for the regulation of the natural monopolies, beginning with December 22, 2003 the commission fixed the limit of the energy supplies at the rate of 0,385 drams for 1kilowatt per hour. According to the source, the problem lies in the controversy aroused between the IEC and High Voltage line CJSC around the issue of the tariff scale.