ArmInfo.In the future, the Artsakh Republic intends to completely abandon the use of gasoline, diesel fuel and compressed gas. The leader of the ruling party in the republic "Free Motherland", the former prime minister of Artsakh, Araik Harutyunyan wrote about this on his Facebook page.
According to him, these energy sources will be replaced by electricity, including vehicles that will be replaced by electric cars. The former prime minister said that on the way to the goal in the republic, work on energy self-sufficiency continues. Recently, a new small hydropower plant was commissioned on the Terter River. In Artsakh, according to the former prime minister, there are all opportunities to bring the volume of own electricity production up to 1 billion kW / h, which will help avoid dependence on external energy sources and fluctuations in oil and gas prices on international markets, which so far continue to influence population resources and the economy of the republic.
As for environmental problems, as Araik Harutyunyan noted, it is necessary to show irreconcilability in this matter and either prevent problems or reduce possible risks by increasing control mechanisms.
Earlier, as ArmInfo reported that in October this year that two more small hydropower plants were commissioned in Artsakh, which will further strengthen the republic's energy self- sufficiency, both generation facilities were erected due to foreign investments on the Trge and Lev (Levonaget) rivers by the Artsakh HPP company. Moreover, due to the ongoing and planned energy projects in the coming years, the volume of electricity production in Karabakh will exceed the preliminary expectations, thereby increasing the strategic independence of the company from external influences.
To note, the annual average total water resources of Artsakh make up 2.502 billion cubic meters. The annual internal average total consumption of water resources in Artsakh is only 35%. In this regard, the republic has developed and implemented a program for the construction of small hydropower plants, aimed at ensuring the republic's self- sufficiency in electricity. Earlier, Head of the Energy Department of the Ministry of Economy and Industrial Infrastructures of Artsakh Hayk Avetisyan reported that in 2018, 6 small hydropower plants with a total installed capacity of 28.5 MW and an average y- o-y output of 161.7 million kW / h of electricity are planned to be commissioned. Five more small hydropower plants are under construction in Martakert, Shahumyan and Kashatagh regions with a total installed capacity of 20 MW. Currently, 16 small hydropower plants are operating in Arkhakh, which in 2017 produced 327.8 million kW / h of electricity, with a year consumption volume of 351.1 million kW / h.