Deputy Minister: Electric power bridge among Armenia, Russia, Iran and Georgia is recognized as important and feasible project

 

According to him, confirmation of intention to set up a coordination-working group of technical experts was the second no less important result of the meeting. He also emphasized that in this area a number of programs have already been launched in Armenia and Georgia and it is planned to revise the existing capacities. "The next meeting is planned in the middle of April of next year, and till this the coordination group will try to hold inventory and define necessary further steps", the Deputy Minister stated.

 

Commenting on the possibility of purchase of gas from Iran in the near term and refuse from Russian gas, Galstyan informed that Armenia does not hold negotiations on complete substitution of Russian gas by Iranian one. As Deputy Minister noted he at least does not have such information, and will refrain from comments. 

 

The Deputy Minister noted that the question is obviously about electricity and added that 400 kW power transmission line to Iran is currently being built, which will ensure capacity of up to 1200MW in 

both directions. "Only in this case we will be able to fully implement the agreement of gas in exchange for electricity, reaching the planned 6.9 billion kW/h electricity yearly, which will increase current supply by 3-4-fold", the official explained. 

 

To recall, a four-sided memorandum among Armenia, Georgia, Iran and Russia was signed on December 23 in Yerevan. The document makes provisions for increasing the level of operation of electricity exchange, security and reliability of energy systems. 

 

According to Armenia's Ministry of Energy the environment for cooperation is favorable as energy systems of the four countries work in parallel-synchronized regime. Particularly, a power transmission 

line between Armenia and Georgia with a capacity of 400-500KW will be put to exploitation till 2018.  As a result parallel work with Georgia's electricity system will be ensured and power exchange of 

350MW will become possible in the first stage, which will increase to 700 MW till 2021. 

 

Besides, till 2018 power transmission line between Armenia and Iran is planned to put into exploitation, which will increase the electricity exchange between the two countries to 1200MW. The aim of implementation of these projects is creating South-North corridor that will allow working with the electric energy systems of EEC and EU.