Work on Iran-Armenia pipeline concludes

YEREVAN, Armenia, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Construction on a natural gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia to transport 81 billion cubic feet of gas has been concluded, Armenian energy officials said Friday.

Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said the pipeline is important to secure energy supplies for his country, noting testing would commence in the coming days, Trend Capital News said.

"The opening of the Iranian-Armenian pipeline will guarantee the energy safety of Armenia," he said. "Armenia will receive from 2.3 billion to 2.5 billion cubic meters of gas from Tehran through this pipeline a year."

Movsisyan added the Armenian government was entering into trilateral talks with Iran and Russia on the construction of an oil refinery and examinations of a new oil pipeline.

The planned $2.5 billion Armenian refinery would have the capacity to produce around 50 million barrels of oil per year.