YEREVAN. - More Iranian gas is planned to be imported to Armenia starting from 2017, Armenia’s Energy and Natural Resources Deputy Minister Hayk Harutyunyan told Radio Liberty. According to him, this will allow exporting more energy to Iran.

To recall, Yerevan and Tehran signed a $120 million agreement on the construction of the 3rd  electrical transmission line (ELP) between the two countries in the course of 18 months.  

According to the Deputy Minister, the third line will allow increasing the volume of the transaction “gas in exchange for electricity.”

Harutyunyan declined to mention how much the gas import will grow.

According to the Customs Service data, Iranian gas is cheaper for Armenia than the Russian one. In 2014, Armenia paid over $183 per 1,000 cubic meters for the Iranian gas and roughly $266 for the Russian one at the border. In 2014, the price was about $188 and $202 respectively.  

Despite this, Armenia buys the Iranian gas only for the operation of Yerevan HPP, which produces energy, most of which goes back to Iran. In 2014, Armenia imported 383 million cubic meters from Iran and 2 billion 109 million from Russia.

Nevertheless, Armenian officials keep stating that the Iranian gas is cheaper than the Russian one.