ArmInfo. Armenia supports Tehran's proposal to increase gas exports from Iran, as stated by RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan to the Armenian service of Radio Liberty.
He stated that under the "Gas for Electricity" barter program, it is possible to at least double the volume of Iranian gas supplies. The minister reported that the Armenian and Iranian sides have reached a verbal agreement to expand this mutually beneficial deal, and the resolution of the remaining issues is already within the scope of the working groups to be established in the near future. "Both sides confirmed that the Republic of Armenia effectively needs to receive larger volumes of gas, while the Islamic Republic of Iran needs to receive larger volumes of electricity," stated David Khudatyan.
He noted that the capacity of the existing gas pipeline between the two countries is higher than the current volume of gas being supplied. Armenia's existing infrastructure, together with the construction of a 400-kilovolt power transmission line, could allow the two countries to significantly expand the current agreement. "This means that we can export at least twice as much electricity to f Iran and receive twice as much gas in return," the minister emphasized. He added that the existing gas pipeline has enough capacity to handle even more than double the current volume.
It should be noted that during David Khudatyan's three-day visit to Iran, the parties agreed to establish a joint specialized working group to develop cooperation in the energy sector, with a particular focus on natural gas trade. Since May 15, 2009, Armenia has been receiving natural gas from Iran via the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Under the Gas for Electricity program, Iranian gas is used to generate electricity in Armenia, after which it is exported to Iran at a rate of 3 kWh per cubic meter of natural gas. In August 2023, the parties extended the agreement until 2030, providing for the possibility of increasing gas imports and electricity exports. Furthermore, the energy corridor construction project is underway. Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia. The Iranian side is building the Iran-Armenia section of the corridor, which could also contribute to a significant increase in barter volumes.
