UNDP supports reforms in Armenia's municipal heating sector
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Yerevan,21 January 2005 - Today, Armenia's Ministry of Natural Protection and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the 'Improving the Energy Efficiency of Municipal Heat and Hot Water Supply in Armenia" project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Minister Vardan Ayvazyan and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Lise Grande signed a document marking the official start of the project, which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Due to the breakdown in the system for ensuring municipal heat and hot water supplies, many households in Armenia are forced to use electric heaters and wood for heating purposes. In addition to being inefficient, these practices generate considerable greenhouse gas (carbon acid) emissions.
The objective of this joint GEF, UNDP and Government project is to reduce GHG emissions resulting from the heat and hot water supply practices in urban areas of Armenia by laying the foundation for the sustainable development of heat and hot water supply services.
To reach its main objective of reducing GHG emissions from municipal heating sector, the project will: a) strengthen the role of condominiums in collectively organising and managing heat and hot water supply services; b) support existing district companies to improve both service quality and operational efficiency and c) support new service providers to promote the use of alternative, environmentally clean and energy efficient technologies. Special attention will be given in the project to implementing pilot projects that use modern heating technologies.
Ms. Grande noted in her speech: "UNDP, the UN's global development network, is committed to helping improve energy efficiency in the country and to ensuring that all households are able to secure constant and affordable supplies of heat and water. The only way to do this is by working in partnership with the Government, civil society and the private sector to ensure that we adopt sustainable practises.”
Project preparation was initiated in 1999, and a feasibility study was carried out to identify the economic, social and organisational barriers that prevent energy efficiency in the heat supply system. In the preparatory phase, the Ministry of Nature Protection, which serve as the executing agency, and UNDP closely cooperated with the Ministries of Finance and Economy, Energy, Urban Development and Yerevan Municipality, as well as the World Bank, US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of the Netherlands, and other multilateral and bilateral donors. This cooperation will be continued and widened during the full-scale project.
The project budget is USD 2.9 million and will be used to leverage additional financing for the rehabilitation of the heat and hot water supply system in Armenia.
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UNDP is the UN's global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We operate in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
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For additional information, please contact Ms. Anahit Simonian (anahit.simonian@undp.org), or Mr. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan (aramazd.ghalamkaryan@undp.org), UNDP Armenia, tel.: +374 1 566 073, +374 9 436 312.
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