Alireza Kameli, Managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), announced that his country is ready to increase natural gas exports to Armenia, reported Press TV.

He made the remarks in an interview with Iranian Oil Ministry’s official SHANA news agency, following a meeting in Tehran between Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh and the visiting Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan.

Kameli added that the pipeline taking Iran’s gas to Armenia is capable of transmitting more than 6mcm/d of natural gas, is currently taking only 1 mcm/d.

“Since necessary infrastructure is lacking in Armenia, the country is currently unable to take full advantage of the capacity of the pipeline,” Kameli said, adding that Armenia is currently planning to build a new 400-kilovolt power transmission line in addition to a combined-cycle power plant, asking Iran to supply the natural gas that it needs to run the plant.

According to Asbarez Armenian News, Iran’s First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri is planning to visit Armenia at the official invitation of Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.

In September the Armenian Deputy Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Areg Galstyan, had said that current annual exports of electricity from Iran—1.8b KWh—can be increased to 6.9b KWh.

Iran and Armenia are also now reportedly building a third high-voltage electricity transmission line, which should be completed by 2018.