Special Purpose Entities	6 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]
Special Purpose Entities	NOTE 2 - SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES The Moxie Project Entities Moxie Energy, LLC (“Moxie”), a Delaware limited liability company, formed a pair of wholly-owned limited liability companies in order to sponsor the development of two natural gas-fired power plant projects (the “Moxie Projects”). The Moxie Project entities, Moxie Liberty LLC (“Moxie Liberty”) and Moxie Patriot LLC (“Moxie Patriot”), together referred to as the “Moxie Project Entities,” were engaged in the lengthy process of planning, obtaining permits and arranging financing for the construction, ownership and operation of the power plants. Under a development agreement with Moxie, as amended and restated, Gemma Power, Inc. (“GPI,” an affiliate included in the GPS group of companies and wholly owned by Argan) supported the development of these two projects with loans that were made in order to cover most of the costs of the development efforts. Pursuant to the development agreement, Moxie provided GPI with the right to receive development success fees and granted GPS the right to provide construction services for the two projects under engineering, procurement and construction contracts. During March 2013 and May 2013, Moxie reached agreements for the purchase of its membership interests in Moxie Liberty and Moxie Patriot, respectively, by affiliates of Panda Power Funds (“Panda”). The consummation of the purchase of each Moxie Project Entity was contingent upon Panda securing permanent financing for the corresponding project. In addition, the Moxie Project Entities entered into separate engineering, procurement and construction contracts with GPS for the Liberty and Patriot Power Projects (the “EPC Contracts”). The Deconsolidation of the Moxie Project Entities Because the Moxie Project Entities did not have sufficient equity investment to permit the entities to finance their activities without additional financial support, these entities were considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”). Despite not having an ownership interest in the Moxie Project Entities, GPI was the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. Accordingly, the Company included the accounts of the VIEs of Moxie in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2013. With the completion of the agreements described above, Panda became the primary source of financial support for the projects. As a result, the Company ceased the consolidation of Moxie Patriot in the three-month period ended July 31, 2013 and Moxie Liberty in the three-month period ended April 30, 2013. The elimination of the accounts of the Moxie Project Entities from the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, including the accumulated net losses of the variable interest entities, resulted in pre-tax gains recognized by GPI in the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2013 in the amounts of $1,324,000 and $2,444,000, respectively. The Purchases of the Moxie Project Entities In August and December 2013, respectively, Panda completed the purchase of and permanent financing for Moxie Liberty and Moxie Patriot and renamed the project entities Panda Liberty LLC (“Panda Liberty”) and Panda Patriot LLC (“Panda Patriot”). Also, GPS received full notice-to-proceed under both EPC Contracts. From the dates of deconsolidation through the dates of purchase of the Moxie Project Entities by Panda, the interest income earned by GPI on its notes receivable was included in other income in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The amounts of interest income included in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2013 were approximately $407,000 and $569,000, respectively. The net operating loss associated with Moxie Patriot (before corresponding income tax benefit) and included in the condensed consolidated results of operations for the six months ended July 31, 2013 was $261,000. Construction Joint Ventures Last year, GPS assigned the EPC Contracts to two separate joint ventures that were formed in order to perform the work for the applicable project and to spread the bonding risk of each project. The joint venture partner for both projects is a large, heavy civil contracting firm. The joint venture agreements provide that GPS has the majority interest in any profits, losses, assets and liabilities that may result from the performance of the EPC Contracts. However, if the joint venture partner is unable to pay its share of any losses, GPS would be fully liable for those losses incurred under the EPC Contracts. GPS has no significant commitments under these arrangements beyond those related to the completion of the EPC Contracts. The joint venture partners are dedicating resources that are necessary to complete the projects and are being reimbursed for their costs. GPS expects to perform most of the activities of the EPC Contracts. Due to the financial control of GPS, the accounts of the joint ventures were included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2014 and January 31, 2014, and the results of their operations were included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013.

NOTE 2 - SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES

The Moxie Project Entities

Moxie Energy, LLC (“Moxie”), a Delaware limited liability company, formed a pair of wholly-owned limited liability companies in order to sponsor the development of two natural gas-fired power plant projects (the “Moxie Projects”). The Moxie Project entities, Moxie Liberty LLC (“Moxie Liberty”) and Moxie Patriot LLC (“Moxie Patriot”), together referred to as the “Moxie Project Entities,” were engaged in the lengthy process of planning, obtaining permits and arranging financing for the construction, ownership and operation of the power plants. Under a development agreement with Moxie, as amended and restated, Gemma Power, Inc. (“GPI,” an affiliate included in the GPS group of companies and wholly owned by Argan) supported the development of these two projects with loans that were made in order to cover most of the costs of the development efforts. Pursuant to the development agreement, Moxie provided GPI with the right to receive development success fees and granted GPS the right to provide construction services for the two projects under engineering, procurement and construction contracts.

During March 2013 and May 2013, Moxie reached agreements for the purchase of its membership interests in Moxie Liberty and Moxie Patriot, respectively, by affiliates of Panda Power Funds (“Panda”). The consummation of the purchase of each Moxie Project Entity was contingent upon Panda securing permanent financing for the corresponding project. In addition, the Moxie Project Entities entered into separate engineering, procurement and construction contracts with GPS for the Liberty and Patriot Power Projects (the “EPC Contracts”).

The Deconsolidation of the Moxie Project Entities

Because the Moxie Project Entities did not have sufficient equity investment to permit the entities to finance their activities without additional financial support, these entities were considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”). Despite not having an ownership interest in the Moxie Project Entities, GPI was the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. Accordingly, the Company included the accounts of the VIEs of Moxie in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2013. With the completion of the agreements described above, Panda became the primary source of financial support for the projects. As a result, the Company ceased the consolidation of Moxie Patriot in the three-month period ended July 31, 2013 and Moxie Liberty in the three-month period ended April 30, 2013. The elimination of the accounts of the Moxie Project Entities from the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, including the accumulated net losses of the variable interest entities, resulted in pre-tax gains recognized by GPI in the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2013 in the amounts of $1,324,000 and $2,444,000, respectively.

The Purchases of the Moxie Project Entities

In August and December 2013, respectively, Panda completed the purchase of and permanent financing for Moxie Liberty and Moxie Patriot and renamed the project entities Panda Liberty LLC (“Panda Liberty”) and Panda Patriot LLC (“Panda Patriot”). Also, GPS received full notice-to-proceed under both EPC Contracts. From the dates of deconsolidation through the dates of purchase of the Moxie Project Entities by Panda, the interest income earned by GPI on its notes receivable was included in other income in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The amounts of interest income included in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2013 were approximately $407,000 and $569,000, respectively. The net operating loss associated with Moxie Patriot (before corresponding income tax benefit) and included in the condensed consolidated results of operations for the six months ended July 31, 2013 was $261,000.

Construction Joint Ventures

Last year, GPS assigned the EPC Contracts to two separate joint ventures that were formed in order to perform the work for the applicable project and to spread the bonding risk of each project. The joint venture partner for both projects is a large, heavy civil contracting firm. The joint venture agreements provide that GPS has the majority interest in any profits, losses, assets and liabilities that may result from the performance of the EPC Contracts. However, if the joint venture partner is unable to pay its share of any losses, GPS would be fully liable for those losses incurred under the EPC Contracts. GPS has no significant commitments under these arrangements beyond those related to the completion of the EPC Contracts. The joint venture partners are dedicating resources that are necessary to complete the projects and are being reimbursed for their costs. GPS expects to perform most of the activities of the EPC Contracts. Due to the financial control of GPS, the accounts of the joint ventures were included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2014 and January 31, 2014, and the results of their operations were included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013.