The ground breaking ceremony of Meghri HPP kicked off in Meghri, Syunik province on November 8 with the participation of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran headed by Majid Namju, Iranian Energy Minister, co-chair of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission also attended the ceremony. Armen Movsisyan, Minister of Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia stated that two HPPs are scheduled to be built on Araks river namely the Meghri HPP from the Armenian part and the Gharachilar HPP, accordingly the from Iranian side. ''A memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Energy of Islamic Republic of Iran on the Meghri HPP construction financing scheme within Armenian President visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2009 on April 14. The Iranian part expressed readiness to buy the Meghri HPP entire volume of produced energy. The Meghri HPP ''construction- managing- exploiting- transfer'' construction permission agreement was signed between the Armenian Government and the Iranian investor Tavan AbAraz Company in 2010 on October 15. The investment project is the unique one ever realized in Armenia. According to the permission agreement, the Iranian investment company will independently solve issues refer to the Meghri HPP construction and exploitation expenses'' Armen Movsisyan noted. The construction will last for five years. Armenia is scheduled to return the invested money in 15 years' time by supplying electricity through the Meghri HPP's 230 kV voltage transmission lines built by the Iranian company. The Meghri power plant will be handed to the Armenian side for free reportedly after supplying energy 15 years incessant to the Iranian side. Majid Namju, the Iranian Energy Minister in this context highlighted applying of hydro power diplomacy. In the words of the Iranian high ranking official hydropower diplomacy will enable a chance to establish peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The contract on construction of the hydro power plant on Arax River has been signed between the governments of the two countries still in 2007 and ratified by the parliaments of the two countries in 2008. "The Noyan Tapan Highlights", #41 (938) 12 November 2012

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