YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A ceremony dedicated to the completion of the construction of the linear section of 186.3-km Kajaran-Ararat gas-main pipeline took place near the city of Ararat on December 1. The indicated section is the continuation of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Its construction began in 2004 on the initiative of the Armenian government with the aim of extending the resource base of Armenia's natural gas supply and creating a second entry line. Kajaran-Ararat gas pipeline was build in hard geological and weather conditions, at an altitude of 1,500-3,000 meters above sea level. Thanks to the implementation of more than 130 million dollar investment program, Iranian gas will be transported to central regions of Armenia through Kajaran-Ararat gas pipeline, and payments for gas will be made by the principle of "gas against electricity". Electricity generated by Yerevan Thermal Power Plant with the capacity of 230 megawatts and the 5th power unit of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant with the capacity of 480 megawatts will ensure delivery of its amount envisaged by an agreement to Iran, while the sale of "profitable" electricity will ensure repayment of gas transportation and the program's investments. The ceremony was attended by the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan, the chairman of Gazprom OJSC's board Alexey Miller, the former Armenian president Robert Kocharian, other officials.

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