Iran to boost gas exports to, energy imports from Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh met with Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yervand Zakharyan, on Sunday, October 4, in Tehran. The parties agreed to increase Iran’s gas exports to Armenia and electricity imports from the country, Mehr news agency reports.

Zanganeh said the details of growth in Iran-Armenia transactions will be further discussed by the two sides.

The Iranian minister also added that First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri is scheduled to visit Armenia to meet with Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan in the near future.

Iran and Armenia signed a deal in 2004 over the export of Iranian gas to the country. The annual capacity of the Iran-Armenia Natural Gas Pipeline is about 2.3 billion cubic meters.

Earlier this September, Armenian Deputy Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Areg Galstyan said current annual exports of electricity - 1.8 billion kWh - can be increased to 6.9 billion KWh.

According to reports, Iran and Armenia are now building a third high-voltage electricity transmission line, set to be completed by 2018.

Managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) said, in turn, the country is ready to increase natural gas exports to Armenia, Press TV reports.

Alireza Kameli made the remarks in an interview with Iranian Oil Ministry's official Shana news agency following the meeting between Zangeneh and Zakharyan.

He added that the pipeline taking Iran's gas to Armenia is capable of transmitting more than six million cubic meters of natural gas per day, but is currently taking only one million cubic meters.

“Since Armenia lacks necessary infrastructure, the country is currently unable to take full advantage of the capacity of the pipeline,” Kameli said.