Tehran and Baku to build power plants in Ordubad and Marazad

Iranian lawmakers have approved a bill on joint construction of two hydropower plants with Azerbaijan. 

The bill authorizes the construction of the plants near the Aras River borderline in the Iranian town Marazad and Azerbaijan’s Ordubad. 

This was part of several topics that Iran and Azerbaijan agreed on in a basic agreement they signed in December 2015. 

The document envisages cooperation in construction of power plants at Khoda Afarin and Qiz Qalasi dams on Aras river as well as construction of Ordubad power plant on the Azerbaijani side and Marazad power plant on the Iranian side.

Moreover, the agreement involves the implementation of joint guideline operations on border rivers' water management.

Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian previously said that cooperation with Azerbaijan in water and electricity sectors should be boosted. He also said that Tehran and Baku have held talks over construction of geothermal and wind power plants in Iran's Meshkin Shahr and Khaf cities respectively, and the projects were said to kick off soon, Press TV reports.