ARMENIA, IRAN TO BUILD THIRD POWER LINE IN 2006-08

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
August 16, 2006 Wednesday 4:28 PM MSK

Armenia and Iran plan to implement a project in 2006-2008 to build a
third power line between the two countries at a cost of $90 million,
Saak Abramian, general director of ZAO High-voltage Power Line,
told Interfax.

It is expected that construction work will begin in 2006. At the
moment experts are working on a project for a new two-circuit power
line, which will stretch 300 km on Armenian territory and 100 km
on Iranian territory. The capacity of the power cable will be 400
megawatts, with voltage in Armenia of 220 kilovolts, and in Iran –
230 kilovolts. The Armenian side will finance 15% of the project.

Armenia will pay back the Iranian investment with supplies of
electricity.

Armenia and Iran signed a financing agreement in Teheran in May
2006 for $90 million to build the third power line between the two
countries.

Iran and Armenia are currently connected by two power lines with a
capacity of 200 megawatts each.
From: Baghdasarian