Armenia and Iran have no problems concerning their joint projects to build a railway, to lay a gas pipeline and to finish the Meghri Water Power Plant on Arax River, Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said during a joint press-conference with his Iranian counterpart.
He said that if the parties had no will to carry out the projects, they would hardly become possible. "We have no problems with implementing the projects. All we have is some technical obstacles we can easily overcome," Nalbandian said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed that Armenia and Iran are willing to finalize the projects. "We have relevant agreements and have discussed all existing problems. So, I hope that the projects will soon be realized," Zarif said.
He said that the Meghri WPP is being built by the Iranians, who have already submitted certain technical specifications. "As far as the Armenia-Iran railway project is concerned, I have discussed this project with my Armenian colleague. We have held discussions concerning energy, gas and electric power. Hopefully, they will be effective," Zarif said.
He noted that the projects were curbed by financial problems but most of them have already been solved by the Armenian side.
According to Armenian Energy Minister Yervand Zakaryan, in 2015 Armenia and Iran will start building Meghri Water Power Plant on Arax River. The capacity of the plant is 130MW, the annual output 800mln KWh. The investor of the project is Tavan Ab Araz. The project is supposed to be fiunished in some five years. During the first 15 years the plant's revenues will be given to the investor. After that the plant will be given to the Armenian side.
Armenia and Iran are also negotiating financing for the 2nd unit of Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. The 450MW unit is supposed to use Iranian gas and to produce 3KWh per each 1 c m.
In Jan 2013 South Caucasus Railway, Armenia's Transport and Communication Ministry and Rasia FZE signed a memorandum of mutual understanding on development of the Southern Railway of Armenia. The project is supposed to be finished in 2022. Its estimated cost is $3.5bln. The length of the railway will be 305 km in the territory of Armenia. It will have 86 bridges and 60 tunnels