YEREVAN, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Armenia is giving a new boost to the works of laying a new high-voltage power transmission line network between Armenia and Iran, the former Soviet country's Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources announced on Friday.
Construction works for the 279 kilometers-long 400 kv air power transmission line from Gegharkunik region of Armenia till Iranian side have now fully resumed with Iranian SUNIR company as the main contract. The project is estimated to cost 107.9 million Euros. The project is implemented within the scope of the Armenia-Iran agreement on exchanging natural gas for electricity.
Armenia has been supplying electricity to the north of Iran for years in exchange for natural gas from the Islamic Republic. According to the statement released by the Armenian Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, the new project will bring the capacity for power transmission up to 1200 megawatts while at the same time "improving the level of energy security for the Republic of Armenia."
Armenia receives almost all its natural gas from Russia. However, it has been practicing a gas for electricity swap deal with Iran for years.