Second pipeline of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to be built this year

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Today in a solemn ceremony we launch the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline that we agreed on during my first official visit to Tehran. Despite the bad weather conditions for such an event, Iranian President participates in this ceremony, which is one more evidence of our friendship," Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in his opening speech. The both presidents lighted the symbolic torch of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, which transports Iranian gas into Armenia.



Armenian Deputy Energy Minister Ara Simonyan said, currently the gas pipeline is supposed to deliver 400 million cubic meters of gas annually into Armenia. But since there is a wish to increase the volume of imported gas, construction works must be launched for enlarging the pipeline. He also noted that this year ArmRosGazprom begins construction of the pipeline from Kajaran to Ararat (150 km), after which Armenia will receive 2.3 billion cubic meters of gas.



After opening the pipeline Energy Ministers of Armenia and Iran in the presence of Armenian and Iranian presidents signed intergovernmental agreement on construction of two hydroelectric power stations on Arax River. One of power stations will be built on the Armenian territory, the other on Iranian, with total 140 megawatts power capacity. In this case Armenia may receive 800-850 kWh power annually, RFE RL reports.