Call for Expediting Electricity Joint Ventures With Armenia

EghtesadOnline: Measures should be taken to expedite joint projects between Tehran and Yerevan in the energy sector, including the third electricity transmission line.

News ID: ۷۸۳۷۵۳

19 August 2018

Iran's Deputy Energy Minister Homayoun Haeri made the statement in a meeting with Armenian Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources Artur Grigoryan in Yerevan on Friday, Mehr News Agency reported.

Haeri referred to the third power transmission line from Iran to Armenia as one of the most important joint ventures between the two states.

Highlighting the importance of northwestern neighbor as a gateway for power exchanges, the official urged Iran Power and Water Equipment and Services Export Company and Electric Networks of Armenia to accelerate the project's implementation in the near future, according to Financial Tribune.

"The project is an important part of multilateral energy cooperation involving Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Russia," he said.

Grigoryan said his country is considering new plans to promote interactions with Iran.

"Yerevan is willing to implement agreements between the two countries to finalize the third power transmission line," he said.

Armenia is connected to Iran through two electricity lines and a third is under construction.

According to reports, the new power line, to be completed by the end of 2018 at an estimated cost of $107 million, is part of an agreement signed by Iran, Russia, Armenia and Georgia to synchronize their power grids by 2019, paving the way for electricity exchange between the two states.

The completion of the new power line will boost electricity exchange between the two countries by four times to about 1,200 megawatts once completed. The two countries have different seasons of peak electricity demand.

Iran exports electricity to Armenia in winter and imports it when domestic demand rises in summer.

The two countries have multiple collaborations in different energy sectors. The two sides started the construction of Meghri Dam, a hydroelectric dam, on Aras River near Armenia's southern town of Meghri along the Iran-Armenia border.

The dam will consist of two 130 megawatts (170,000 hp) hydroelectric power stations on the Iranian side and Meghri on the Armenian side.

--- Electricity Export to Iraq

Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi on Saturday reiterated Iran’s intention to consolidate ties with Baghdad in different sectors, including the energy field.

"Despite US economic pressures, Iran's electricity and gas exports to Iraq will continue," he said.

A day earlier, Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said the ministry has invited Iraq's new minister of electricity to confer over power trade issues.

"The invitation is aimed at resolving issues, including settling Iraq's debts and continuation of Iraq's electricity exports to the Arab country," he said.

Iran cut off electricity supplies to Iraq this summer, since it was gripped with constant blackouts in many cities. But Iraqi media reported that Tehran had "abruptly" cut power supply due to Iraq's increasing debts.

Iraq has been importing electricity from Iran for over a decade.