Baku going to hamper Iran-Armenia oil pipeline construction

PanARMENIAN.Net - Official Baku and Azerbaijanis in Tabriz will try to hamper construction of Iran-Armenia oil pipeline, said Sabit Bagirov, head of Baku-based center of political and economic studies.



"If Iran and Armenia have really reached an agreement, its implementation will take time but at the same time it will help reduce the cost of Iranian oil for Armenia," he said, adding that official Baku will spare no effort to hamper the project, 1 news.az reports.



Earlier, RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan said construction of Tabriz (Iran)-Yeraskh (Armenia) oil pipeline, which will pump oil products from a refinery in Tabriz to Armenia, will start in 2009.



"The oil pipeline will first of all satisfy Armenia's needs, including strengthening of energy security of the republic, reduction of transport expenses and establishment of competitive market prices," he said.



The construction will presumably cost $200-240 mln. The passing-pipe size is 250 mm and length is 300 km.