Iran and Armenia plan to activate exchange of electricity

ArmInfo. Iran's Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian called for activation of exchange of electricity between the two countries during the meeting with Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia Ashot Manukyan in Tehran.

"Amount of exchanges between Iran and Armenia can be raised to 1200 MW/h as soon as infrastructure projects are implemented", Chitchian said during the meeting. Currently the supply of electricity totals 300MW/h. Iran's Minister of Energy pointed at the importance of implementation of projects, such as "North-South electricity power corridor.

Iran.ru recalls that in the middle of June Head of Iran's "Niroo" Scientific Research Institute Mohammad Sadegh Ghazizadeh stated that Iran and Armenia plan to finish their third power transmission line less than in two years. The official confirmed that the third power transmission line will allow Armenia and Iran to increase the amount of electricity supplied in exchange for gas. In August 2015 Yerevan and Tehran signed an agreement on construction of the third power  transmission line.

To recall, on October 26 Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Areg Galstyan said in Parliament that Armenia intends to create a regional electric power market with its partners in the region. He stressed the need to create conditions for effective parallel activities of the power grids of Iran, Georgia, Armenia and Russia.  The construction of Iran-Armenia and Armenia-Georgia high voltage power transmission lines will create all the necessary prerequisites for that. Both projects will be implemented by the end of 2019. At the same time, Georgia is negotiating with Russia on construction of a new 500KV power transmission line and substations, which will enable not only reciprocal cross-flows of electric power, but also commercial deals. At the moment, a coordination group at the level of deputy ministers of the four countries is actively working to launch the projects. By late 2019 the 1 thsd MW North-South energy corridor will operate at full capacity. He stressed that Armenia will both economically and politically benefit even from electric power transit.  To note, SUNIR (Iran) has received official permit to build a 400KV Iran-Armenia power transmission line. The relevant decision was taken during the Government's meeting on April 28. The permit was provided under the memorandum signed between Armenia and Iran in May 2006. To recall, the Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Export Development Bank of Iran signed the agreement on construction of 400KV Iran-Armenia power transmission line in August 2015. The total cost of the project is 107.9 mln EUR. The Iranian Bank will provide 77% of the amount, with the remaining 23% to be provided by the general contractor - SUNIR. The total length will be 279km. The line will be laid from Meghri to Hrazdan, where a 440/220KV substation will be built 10 km away from the Hrazdan TPP. From the latter a new 400KV power transmission line will be laid to Georgia under another project (at the expense of a KfW loan with co- financing of EIB and the EU. The total financing will be 105.2 mln EUR).