Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr I. Khalilova / The Azerbaijani Government has begun the implementation of a pilot project to introduce pre-payment gas and electricity supply meters, Azerbaijani Vice Prime Minister, Yagub Eyyubov, has reported.
Setting up gas meters will begin in Ganja city. A contract providing for the supply of 60,000 meters each costing $140 has already been signed with French Actaris Metering Systems.
The pilot introduction of the pre-payment electricity supply meters will also begin in Ganja city (80,000-100,000 meters) and Sheki region (100,000). The supply meters for Ganja will be assembled in China; those for Sheki will be supplied by Actaris.
The expenditures for setting up the meters will be covered by Azerigaz closed joint-stock company and Azerenerji joint-stock company; the subscribers will not be involved.
The closed cost of Actaris meters will be around $100 each.
"The decision whether or not to introduce the meters all over the country will be made with regards to the efficiency of the meters," Eyyubov said.
Some 1mln gas meters and over 1mln electricity supply meters are required for complete provision of Azerbaijan.