Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 18
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Fresh talks have been held in Tehran discussing the export of Turkmenistan's electricity to Iran by creating a high-voltage power line.
Iran and Turkmenistan have discussed constructing a 400kv electricity transmission line from Mary city in Turkmenistan to Iran's city of Sarakhs. The issue was discussed between Iranian deputy energy minister, Houshang Falahatian, and the chairman of Turkmenenergo State Electric Energy Corporation Rasul Annayev.
Falahatian said the construction of the line in Iran has already been launched, while Turkmenistan will soon start building its own part, Mehr news agency reported.
He pointed out that upon receiving characteristics and specifications of the Mary-Sarakhs line, the costs of the project will be estimated. Falahatian said that at the moment '$15 million via Afghanistan and $5 million via Turkey will be paid to the Turkmen company in order to advance the project'.
He expressed hope that once the sanctions on Iran are lifted, the volume of trade between the two countries will increase.
The field studies of the 400kv line between Mary and Sarakhs for electricity exports began about seven years ago and the executive steps started three or four years ago with a length of 170 kilometers in Iran while its implementation in Turkmenistan's territory with the length of 165 kilometers will soon be carried out after reaching a final agreement.