YEREVAN (Realist English). David Kazinyan, acting director general of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), said on Friday that Samvel Karapetyan, whose Tashir Group owns the utility, would not accept any deal with the government in exchange for freedom.
“It’s impossible to pressure [Karapetyan] into an agreement,” Kazinyan told reporters, responding to government plans to nationalize the company.
He dismissed authorities’ claims that nationalization would lead to 30% salary increases for ENA’s 6,800 employees, calling them a “myth” that would force Armenia’s 3 million citizens to pay higher electricity prices.
ENA, which serves over 1 million customers, is the sole buyer of electricity from all generating companies in Armenia and the sole distributor to consumers nationwide.