Armenian authorities name reason for delay in Iran-Armenia power line construction

Completion of the construction of the Iran-Armenia power transmission line (PTL) had to be postponed due to the situation in the Middle East.

This was stated by acting head of the energy department of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Ovanes Abramyan.

It was previously reported that the power transmission line is planned to be commissioned in the spring, albeit partially. Of the two 400 kV cables, one will be connected, and for the full length of the line - to the northern part of Syunik region (Noravan substation). The full route of the line should further reach the Ddmashen substation on the coast of Lake Sevan.

Due to the situation in the Middle East, Iranian contractors requested a short delay, but construction work, albeit at a slower pace, continued. Now it has accelerated, but it is difficult to name the deadlines for completion of work, given that the situation is not yet completely stable, Abramyan noted.

"If it were not for the events in the Middle East, we could say that the work would have been completed by the end of this year, but now, until the situation has finally stabilized, it is wrong to name any deadlines," Abramyan noted.

Work remains to be completed in several sections: in some, supports still need to be installed, in others, cable needs to be laid. In the near future, it is planned to complete the construction of the Noravan substation in the Sisian region.

One of the two transformers for it has already been delivered, and the second will be delivered soon.

Two power transmission lines (with voltages of 110 and 220 kV) are operating between Iran and Armenia. The third line, at 400 kV, will increase the capacity of electricity flows between the two countries from 350 to 1,200 megawatts.

This, in turn, will expand the scheme of electricity supplies in exchange for gas (it is supplied from Iran and used for the operation of Armenian thermal power plants, part of the generated electricity goes to Iran, part remains in the Armenian energy system).

Source: Sputnik Armenia