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The Armenian government has allocated AMD 650 million in funding for the construction of the Vedi Reservoir.
Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan explained that the decision involves reallocating funds from the 2026 state budget and providing AMD 650 million for the Vedi Reservoir construction project, which is being implemented with the support of the Government of the Republic of France.
Around AMD 468 million of this amount will be paid to the contractor as the release of the post-completion guarantee, while AMD 117 million will be allocated for consulting services.
“This is a payment planned under the current procedures and nothing beyond that,” Khudatyan emphasized.
He said that the construction of the reservoir has been completed.
Of its total capacity of 30 million cubic meters, around 12.5 million cubic meters have already been filled. The reservoir’s filling, discharge, and emergency spillway systems have been tested.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that this is the first time in the history of the third Republic of Armenia that such an engineering water infrastructure project has been implemented.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan clarified that the reservoir is not currently being filled to full capacity, not because it is impossible, but because during the peak irrigation season the water is directed for agricultural use. In 2027, the reservoir’s water level is expected to reach 20 million cubic meters, and by the end of the same year, it is planned to reach its full capacity of 30 million cubic meters.
At the same time, the nearby road leading to the pasture area will be relocated to a higher section to ensure residents’ free movement.
The Deputy Prime Minister also reported that work has begun on the construction of three new reservoirs: Kasakh (10 million cubic meters), Lichk in Syunik Province (4 million cubic meters), and Yelpin (1 million cubic meters). The designs for these projects have already been completed.
“We have applied to the financing organization to coordinate internal procedures. Construction should begin by the end of this year. We will announce a tender to select the construction company,” Khachatryan said.
According to him, within the framework of the same cooperation program, the construction of two additional reservoirs—Artik and Astghadzor, each with a capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters—has been agreed upon with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The implementation process for the Mastara Reservoir is also being coordinated with one of its financing organizations.
Work is also underway on the construction of 12 more reservoirs. Conclusions are expected soon, after which the issue of securing investment funding will be discussed.