BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 30. Iran and Azerbaijan have agreed on defining the locations for the construction of stream gauges (water measuring stations) in the lower and upper parts of the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi hydroelectric junctions, Trend reports.
A stream gauge is a device that measures and records the water level or flow of a stream or river. It can also collect other data, such as water quality or temperature. Stream gauges are used by hydrologists, environmental scientists, engineers, and others to monitor and study water resources.
As Iran's East Azerbaijan Regional Water Company reported, a meeting of the two countries' working groups on determining the location of the construction of new stream gauges and checking and improving the current state of existing stations in the Giz Galasi Hydro junction located on the border of Iran and Azerbaijan was held.
At the meeting, the working groups of the two countries agreed that they would prepare a schedule for determining the final locations of the stations within the next 1 month. The construction of stream gauges on the Araz river will be an effective help in using the water resources of this river.
The working group of the two countries also held discussions on the allocation of joint territory between the two countries in connection with the construction workshop for the construction of the Kalala-Aghbend bridge over the Araz river.
The construction of the Kalala-Aghbend bridge between the two countries, as well as the construction of roads that will connect to this bridge in the territory of the two countries, will further simplify the movement by land between Iran, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Europe.
The Giz Galasi dam is a joint project between Iran and Azerbaijan on the Araz river, downstream of the Khudafarin dam. It cost 5.5 trillion rials (around $131 million) to build, as Iranian side states. The dam will provide water for irrigation and employment for 85,000 people in East Azerbaijan and Ardabil provinces of Iran, as well as 74,000 hectares of land. The dam will also control the flow of 2 billion cubic meters of water annually, half of which will go to each country.
The Araz river has a reservoir 196 km upstream of the Khudafarin dam, which is a joint project between Iran and Azerbaijan. The dam will have a hydroelectric power station (HPP) that can produce 200 megawatt hours of electricity. The dam will also store 1.6 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoir.
The construction of a road bridge and border-customs facilities started on October 6, 2023, on the Araz river near the town of Aghbend in Zangilan district. The bridge, which spans 216 meters in length and 24.5 meters in width, has 2 lanes for vehicles and 1 lane for pedestrians on each side. A departure point that can handle at least 1,000 cargo vehicles per day, with 500 coming in and 500 going out, will also be built on both sides of the border.
---
Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur