The first trial-based electricity supplies from Russia to Iran via the Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran "North-South" energy corridor are expected to start in 2019, Russia’s Energy Ministry said in a statement following the results of the first meeting of a trilateral working group on linking the power grids of the three countries.
"Following a meeting with Russia’s Deputy Minister of Energy Anatoly Yanovsky in Moscow, the parties agreed that interested companies should soon come up with their proposals for electricity trade within the integrated power grid of the three countries and consider the possibility of trial-based electricity supply to Iran next year," the ministry said without naming Iranian officials, IRNA reported.
According to the news agency, to connect the Iranian and Russian power grids via the corridor, electricity infrastructure in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia could come into play—the three countries located between Iran and Russia.
But a brief look at the map suggests that the plan can be carried out in its entirety via Azerbaijan, as the country straddles the shortest route between Iranian and Russian borders.
According to Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan are moving from the cooperation in a bilateral format to a trilateral format.
The official noted that "North-South" energy corridor envisages the export of electricity from Russia to Azerbaijan and further to Iran. A special working group has been established in this regard. "The energy ministers of three countries are working on this issue," he said.
Iran, Russia, Armenia and Georgia signed a memorandum of understanding in 2015 to synchronize their power grids by 2019, paving the way for electricity exchange between Tehran and Moscow as part of expansive plans to boost cooperation.
The MoU was signed by Iran’s former energy minister Hamid Chitchian and Russian, Azeri, Georgian and, Armenian officials during the 13th Iran-Turkmenistan Economic Commission in Yerevan.
Moscow and Tehran also signed agreements to expand energy cooperation in 2015, including building a 1,400-megawatt power plant in southern Iran and work on deepwater drilling on Iranian territory.
The North-South corridor involves the export of electricity from Russia to Azerbaijan and further to Iran.
