Tehran floats linkage of Russian, Emirati, Saudi grids via Iran
Iran’s Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi proposed the connection of Russia’s power grid to that of Saudi Arabia and the UAE via Iran, as he attended a summit of energy ministers of BRICS member states.
Aliabadi on Thursday addressed the summit that Iran has an important geoeconomic position as it shares sea and land borders with 15 countries, while it connects a key part of international transit corridors leading to the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf as well as Caucasus and Central Asian regions, with high security and at low economic costs, IRNA reported.
Iran also intends to start electricity trade and transit by connecting its electricity network to “all countries with a common land border,” he added.
Aliabadi went on to say that, “Today, the energy ministers of BRICS countries are aiming to benefit from energy diplomacy as an efficient tool to achieve their goals and maintain and increase their national interests in the field of foreign policy with a humane approach.”
Referring to the accession of new members to the BRICS group from the beginning of 2024, the minister said, “The joining of the five countries of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Ethiopia to this group is of strategic importance.”
On the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Moscow on Thursday, Aliabadi held talks with Deputy Head of China’s National Energy Organization.
The two sides explored avenues for the development of bilateral relations in the energy sector, modern technologies and smarting the energy production chain.
Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali also attended the meeting, IRNA reported.
The energy ministers and officials of BRICS member countries, including Russia, Iran, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt and the UAE attended the meeting.