Minister calls for electricity swap among regional countries
Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian voiced the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to export technical and engineering services, as well as supply equipment in the energy sector.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan, the minister pointed out that connecting the electricity grid of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and then Iran will enable the exchange of electricity for the countries of the region, especially during the peak consumption period of summer and winter, IRNA reported.
On Thursday, on the sidelines of the fourth meeting of the energy ministers of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Mehrabian in a meeting with Mahmoud Jurabek, the minister of energy of Uzbekistan, expressed his readiness to expand cooperation between the two countries, while thanking the president of that country for his efforts in bilateral cooperation in the field of energy.
He voiced the readiness of Iran to develop cooperation, especially in the field of exporting technical and engineering services, as well as supplying energy field equipment to Uzbekistan.
Stating that Uzbekistan has a growing economy, the Mehrabian mentioned energy as the most important issue of development in this country.
Referring to the capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the production, transmission and distribution of electricity, Mehrabian pointed out that factories manufacturing equipment in the Islamic Republic of Iran are ready to cooperate with Uzbekistan at a competitive price.
“If Uzbekistan’s electricity grid is connected to Turkmenistan’s electricity grid, it will be possible to exchange electricity with Uzbekistan and manage peak consumption in summer and winter,” he added.
Iran has a nominal power generation capacity of more than 90 GW which is mostly supplied from thermal power plants that burn natural gas or gas oil to produce electricity.
That comes as the country has introduced extensive plans to develop its renewable energy sector in recent years.
According to a report by the Energy Ministry, a total of 12 renewable power plants, including 11 solar farms and one wind power plant, are planned to be inaugurated in seven provinces across Iran in the very near future.
The report said the new power plants will increase the renewables capacity in Iran by 70 megawatts to a total of just more than 1.262 GW.