IRAN STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF ITS SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Iran starts constructing its 100 km section
of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. The construction will be completed by
the spring of 2006, Armenian Ambassador to Iran Gegham Gharibjanyan
said in his interview to RFE/RL.
He said that construction is carried out by an Iranian company on
state funds. He said that the Armenian section of the pipeline (45 km
length) will also be constructed by an Iranian company, whose name is
already known and its representative has recently visited Armenia. The
Ambassador refused from naming it, pointing out that it is patronized
by the state, has a big experience in the sphere and its financial and
construction possibilities allow it to complete the construction
before the term fixed.
It should be noted that on May 13, 2004, an agreement on delivery of
Iranian natural gas to Armenia and on construction of the gas pipeline
was signed in Yerevan. The sides intend to construct the gas pipeline
within 2 years and to put it into exploitation by Jan 1, 2007. In
conformity with the document, within 20 years, Iran will deliver at
least 36 bln cubic meters of gas to Armenia. In conformity with the
feasibility study worked out by the specialists of Gazprom OJSC, the
construction of the Armenian section of the pipeline from Meghri to
Kajaran costs $140 mln. The project will be justified within 9 years.
Chairman of Gazprom OJSC Alexander Ryazanov, who has recently been in
Armenia, did not rule out that a Russian company may be a co-financier
of the project.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress