Armenian Energy Ministry spokesman, Lusine Harutiunian confirmed that natural gas deliveries from Iran had commenced.
Kasaizadeh said under the 20-year agreement, originally signed in 2004, the volume of Iran’s gas supplies to Armenia could reach four million cubic meters per day in 2011 and then gradually increase to 6.3 million cubic meters per day.
Iran’s gas exports to Armenia were due to start in 2007, but Armenia requested holdup, saying Yerevan was not ready to distribute the gas it was to receive under the contract.
Armenia will use Iranian gas for generating electricity which will be partially returned to the Islamic Republic in payment for gas imports.
Iran and Armenia are due to construct a third high-voltage power transmission line linking their power grids for this purpose.
