Friday, 24 February 2006
Today the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Fund of Energy and Power Supply has held a meeting at the Office of Government, which was presided at by Chairman of Board of Trustees, Republic of Armenia Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
The Board has discussed and approved the report on fulfillment of the assignments given at the previous meeting. Questions associated with efficiency in supply of heating to blocks of houses, by maintenance of urban heating, as well as other questions of topical interest have been considered.
With reference to the first question on meeting agenda, Fund Manager Tamara Babayan reported that the bulk of assignments given at the previous meeting had been complied with. In particular, the processes relating to submission of information on the course of implementation of household heating program were agreed with the representatives of the United States Agency for International Development, the cooperation with the Fund in coordination of programs and submission to the Board of the outcome of discussions, the organizational structures of tender commissions stipulated within the framework of the programs realized by the Fund were taken up for discussion.
Among other agenda items, Mr. Gagik Hovanesyan from the United States Agency for International Development informed the Board of Trustees on the USAID-financed program of household heating, the chief purpose of which was said to be the provision of assistance in the implementation of the urban heating strategy adopted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia in 2002, as well as the analysis and specification of most effective and cost-efficient schemes for supply of heating to different communities in the Republic of Armenia. According to the speaker, the program will help address several institutional issues that will promote effective and transparent management of heating supply systems, improve the overall quality of services provided to consumers and raise the level of fee collection, establish a stable commercial market for thermal energy, raise the awareness of the public on corresponding questions. The program will closely cooperate with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and with Republic of Armenia ministries, involving "Arm-Ros-Gasprom," non-governmental organizations and heating supplier entities in the process of problem solution.
The Board of Trustees has also heard the report on the pace of implementation of the United Nations Development Program
