Energy Ministers of Armenia, Iran, Georgia, and Russia sign agreement for North-South Energy Corridor on April 13, 2016 (Photo: Photolur)

YEREVAN (Arka)—Armenia is increasingly gaining strategic significance in the context of construction of the North-South energy corridor, said Armen Manvelyan, a regional and international research officer at the National Academy of Armenia, on Monday at a conference focused on prospects for Armenia-Georgia-Iran-Russia cooperation.

On July 13 in Yerevan, the energy ministers of Armenia, Russia and Iran as well as the Georgian deputy energy minister signed a roadmap to build the North-South energy corridor.

The corridor’s capacity is estimated to reach around 1,000 MW.

A power transmission line between Armenia and Iran is already being built at the Iran’s account and construction of another high-voltage line between Armenia and Georgia is paid from the loan extended by KfW Bank.

Manvelyan thinks that in this process, Armenia should put emphasis on its experience in cooperation with Russia and Iran.

In his opinion, political stability inside Armenia is also one of its advantages.

“Besides, Armenia points out the presence of appropriate technologies in conveying and distributing electricity,” he said.

Manvelyan also stressed the importance of Georgia’s participation in the process, saying that it would be imperfect without it.

The conference was organized by Noravank Scientific Educational Foundation, the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, Integration and Development NGO, International Relations and Economic Integration in the South Caucasus expert network, Znanie Society (Russia) and Caucasian Cooperation noncommercial partnership.