TRIPP project enters implementation phase as working group visits Syunik to assess infrastructure

Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan led a working group visit to Syunik Province as part of preparatory work for the implementation of the TRIPP project to examine on-site issues related to the design of railway, road, and energy infrastructure.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of opening regional communications as soon as possible to enhance Armenia’s economic resilience at the Cabinet meeting on October 22.

“To increase our economic resilience, it is very important that we be able to achieve the opening of regional communications as soon as possible,” the Prime Minister said.

Pashinyan also noted that the ratification process for the agreement signed between Armenia and the United States concerning the TRIPP project had begun in parliament. The bill has already been approved by a parliamentary committee ahead of the plenary session.

Presenting the results of the visit to Syunik, Grigoryan said that the on-site studies had been conducted to prepare for the launch of design work. At this stage, the work concerns three infrastructure components: the railway, the road, and power transmission lines.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the railway route has been determined, while the visit was intended to allow the team to examine the condition of existing structures on site once again.

As for the road, Grigoryan said there are sections that are difficult to traverse, and the final design solutions must ensure the road’s competitiveness.

“We are talking about transit, and a transit road will be competitive and our costs will be efficient only if it has an operational advantage at the regional level,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

He said that there are also issues concerning the power transmission lines that still need to be finalized, and possible solutions will be modeled.

Grigoryan considered it advisable to begin design work without waiting for the establishment of the TRIPP Development Company to be completed. According to him, the work carried out will subsequently be transferred to the company once it is established and begins operations.

“To avoid wasting time, we believe it is right to start the design work today,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that more specific sketches would soon be presented for discussion, after which the actual design work would begin.

Pashinyan, in turn, noted that the project was entering the implementation phase, describing it as important for maintaining and sustaining Armenia’s economic momentum.

“Now, essentially, we should note that we are entering the implementation phase,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister recalled that the Armenian-American TRIPP Development Company is expected to be established in the near future.

“We are now essentially in the final stage of establishing the company, and once it is established, the work carried out, including as our contribution, will be transferred to the company,” Pashinyan said.