ArmInfo.The invitation of tenders for the construction of a reservoir in Kaps, a village in the Shirak province of Armenia, got under way on November 1, 2021. January 10, 2022, is the deadline for submission of tenders, reports the press service of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures.
Invitations have been sent to the following pre-qualified companies: 1. Shanxi Construction Investment Group and SHANXI Hydrologic Construction Bureau. 2. Dongfang Electric International Corporation and China Road and Bridge Corporation.
On November 22, 2021, representatives of the companies visited the site for construction of the dam, as well as the auxiliary facilities. Designing group members were present as well. During the visit, the tenderers were informed of the current state of repair of the dam, headings and irrigation tunnels. A pre- tender meeting took place at the Water Sector Projects implementation Branch office on November 23. The incomplete reservoir construction project is located in Kaps, Shirak province, 22km north of Gyumri, in the Akhuryan River Valley. The EUR 60mln project (with EUR 50mln loans) is funded by Armenia`s government and the German KfW bank. The loan agreement was enforced on January 29,2019, with the loan utilization deadline being December 30, 2019. However, the deadline was extended until June 30, 2024. Under the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)/ Akhuryan River Stage One project, the construction of a water reservoir for 25mln cubic meter is to be completed. The project provides for the construction of auxiliary facilities of the dam, equipment of the water-flow record points on the Akhuryan River, (from the Arpi reservoir to the Akhuryan reservoir), creation of a central database (SCADA). "Completing the construction of the dam and auxiliary facilities will first of all ensure the safety of settlements located downstream, improve water supply to an area of 12,325 hectares in Shirak and to the right side of the Aghuryan reservoir. Gravity irrigation will replace mechanical irrigation in an area of 2,280 hectares, which will save 1.3mln kwh of energy. Regular irrigation will increase agricultural output, and a reliable water-flow record system will improve water management," reads a report by the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures.
On August 27, 2020, Armenia`s government approved a land acquisition and resettlement action plan under the Under the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)/ Akhuryan River Stage One project, which provides for Kaps reservoir construction. The project is to be launched this year to last for 3 years and a half.
RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Vache Terteryan said that a EUR 60mln loan agreement was signed with the KfW bank is 2014. Since some of the buildings in the Kaps village would be flooded at the first stage, Jradzor has to be resettled. The new village near the reservoir will have about 350 residents. The local residents were offered two options: certificates or construction of a new settlement. The first option requires budget expenditures totaling AMD 3.2bln , and the second AMD 4.9bln. the local residents are inclined to the second option
