Water and energy security in the case of Armenia

Abstract

This chapter puts emphasis on the water security and aims to clarify the role of hydropower in the energy security of Armenia. Armenia can be considered one of the water-rich countries in the region, considering its significant water resources and the high amount of precipitation that feeds these resources. The universal water stress index categorizes Armenia as a water-rich nation (renewable water per capita > 2000 m3), although most of the renewable water resources of the country are transboundary, and the country’s water security is yet to be subjected to a comprehensive analysis. Water security has a crucial impact also on energy security, and in the case of Armenia, as the country has no fossil fuel, it depends on foreign resources. In this context, hydropower stands as the most significant domestic resource, with the electricity sector relying heavily on hydroelectric power plants (HPPs). To enhance production and sustain the current role of hydropower in the energy supply mechanism, first, the country’s water security needs to be maintained. This chapter concludes that energy security in the country is primarily dependent on hydropower, and so the significance of water is double for Armenia. The chapter comprises three main parts: The first part explains the status of water security in Armenia; the second part examines Armenian energy policies, with specific focus on hydropower; and the third part concludes the chapter with a summary of the findings, and reveals the specific role of hydropower in the context of energy security.