TODAY.AZ / Business

Iran OKs bill on Iran-Azerbaijan power plants

31 August 2016 [14:53] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Nigar Abbasova

The Iranian Parliament has approved a bill on joint construction of two power plants with Azerbaijan.

The construction of hydropower plants will be implemented near the Araz River borderline in the Iranian town Marazad and Azerbaijan’s Ordubad, Iran Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pak Ayeen told Trend August 31.

The bill was passed with a majority of votes with 180 voters being for, 9 against and 5 abstentions.

The two energy-rich neighbor countries signed a MoU, which covers cooperation in some 12 different spheres of economy, including energy in December 2015.

The document envisages cooperation in construction of power plants at Khoda Afarin and Qiz Qalasi dams on Araz river as well as construction of Ordubad power plant on the Azerbaijani side and Marazad power plant on the Iranian side. Moreover, the agreement stipulates for implementation of joint guideline operations on border rivers' water management.

The agreement promises new opportunities and prospects for economic cooperation between the two countries, in particular in the sphere of energy.

Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian previously said that cooperation with Azerbaijan in water and electricity sectors should be boosted. He also said that Tehran and Baku have held talks over construction of geothermal and wind power plants in Iran's Meshkin Shahr and Khaf cities respectively, and the projects were said to kick off soon.

Iran, which is considered to be the largest exporter and importer of electricity in the Middle East, currently ranks 14th in the world in terms of electricity generation. The country exports electricity to such countries as Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan.

There has also been talk of linking the electricity networks of Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia. The issue is among Iran's priorities in the energy sector.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/153811.html

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