Source: Mehr News Agency, Tehran
Iran is in talks with Tajikistan to import as much as one billion cubic
meters of potable water, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou said on Sunday.
The volume to be imported has not been yet finalized, but it is anticipated
that one billion cubic meters of water will be imported, Namjou added.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 9th meeting of the Iran-Tajikistan
Joint Economic Commission, which opened in Tehran on Sunday.
The Iranian energy minister also stated that Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan
have agreed to create a joint water and electricity corridor.
To connect the national electricity grids of the three countries, a 500KV
transmission line should be established, he said, adding that the exact amount
of investment needed and related technical considerations are being studied.
In April, the Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan, Ali-Asghar Sherdoost, said that
during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent trip of to Tajikistan, the
presidents of Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan signed a memorandum of
understanding authorizing the construction of a highway from Iran to Afghanistan
and Tajikistan and from there to China.
"If this highway is built, it will be possible to have a pipeline transporting
oil and gas from Iran and transporting water from Tajikistan to Iran,
Afghanistan, and some countries in the Persian Gulf. We also discussed the
construction of a petroleum refinery, which is in need here in Tajikistan, and
for which Iran has the technology", he added.
Trade between Iran and Tajikistan exceeded $500 million during Iranian calendar
year 1390 (March 2011-March 2012).
... Payvand News - 05/28/12 ... --
