First results of exploratory drilling of geothermal sources in Armenia expected in 2016
YEREVAN, September 23. / ARKA /. The first results of exploratory drilling of geothermal sources in Armenia financed by a World Bank grant are expected in 2016, deputy energy and natural resources minister Areg Galstyan told a public debate today on the future of the country’s power grid.
He said preliminary research data is very optimistic and promising, 'and we can assert that there are several geothermal sources in the territory of Armenia, but no company would agree to implement such a risky project until exploration drilling data is obtained.'
The $8.5 million grant for the Geothermal Exploratory Drilling Project (GEDP) for Armenia was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors in early June. This project is to confirm whether the geothermal resource at the Karkar field is suitable for power generation and, if confirmed, to involve the private sector in the development of a geothermal power plant.
The objective of the government is to construct a geothermal power plant at the Karkar site in the Syunik region upon the confirmation of the availability of the resource. Unlike other renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar, and hydro, it is not possible to validate the geothermal resource with sufficient confidence for commercial development without performing exploratory drillings at depth to assess specific parameters of the geothermal field.
The selection of the Karkar site for exploratory drilling is based on field investigation works completed for two prospective sites, which were deemed the most promising by the local and international geothermal experts. The field investigation works at the prospective sites were supported under the Armenia Geothermal Project, financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and completed in 2012.
The early-stage analyses suggested that a 28 MW geothermal power plant with a total estimated cost of $90-100 million could potentially be constructed at the site. The potential geothermal power plant could be developed with a mix of public and private capital. The development of geothermal power would contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. -0-
He said preliminary research data is very optimistic and promising, 'and we can assert that there are several geothermal sources in the territory of Armenia, but no company would agree to implement such a risky project until exploration drilling data is obtained.'
The $8.5 million grant for the Geothermal Exploratory Drilling Project (GEDP) for Armenia was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors in early June. This project is to confirm whether the geothermal resource at the Karkar field is suitable for power generation and, if confirmed, to involve the private sector in the development of a geothermal power plant.
The objective of the government is to construct a geothermal power plant at the Karkar site in the Syunik region upon the confirmation of the availability of the resource. Unlike other renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar, and hydro, it is not possible to validate the geothermal resource with sufficient confidence for commercial development without performing exploratory drillings at depth to assess specific parameters of the geothermal field.
The selection of the Karkar site for exploratory drilling is based on field investigation works completed for two prospective sites, which were deemed the most promising by the local and international geothermal experts. The field investigation works at the prospective sites were supported under the Armenia Geothermal Project, financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and completed in 2012.
The early-stage analyses suggested that a 28 MW geothermal power plant with a total estimated cost of $90-100 million could potentially be constructed at the site. The potential geothermal power plant could be developed with a mix of public and private capital. The development of geothermal power would contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. -0-