Iran to import 300 MW from northern neighbors for summer peak
Iran will import 300 megawatts of electricity from Turkmenistan and Armenia during this summer's peak load, a senior energy official said, adding that an exchange of up to 1,000 MW with Russia remains part of future agreements.
"300 MW of electricity will be imported from Turkmenistan and Armenia during this summer's peak load," Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, deputy minister of energy, told the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA). "Exchange of 1,000 MW of electricity with Russia is part of future agreements."
Rajabi Mashhadi said Iran is importing the 300 MW from these two neighbors while also maintaining electricity exports to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Asked whether the 40-day US-Israeli war that began in late February had disrupted Iran's electricity exchanges, he said the conflict had not caused damage because the facilities were not targeted.
"In general, both Turkmenistan and Armenia have good cooperation with Iran on electricity supply," he said.
On grid synchronization with Russia, Rajabi Mashhadi said the interconnection remains part of future agreements, with productive understandings reached on developing a link via Armenia's network.
"After the necessary lines and facilities for connecting the grid between Iran and Russia are built, technically it is possible to exchange up to 1,000 MW between the two countries," he said.
Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi recently said the country is in a significantly better position regarding energy supply for this summer.
"Currently we have no deficit in electricity production, but this year we must reach a capacity that allows us to manage maximum consumption, and the entire system must align with this goal," Aliabadi said.
The ministry's spokesperson earlier said electricity demand was expected to rise "by more than 5% this year," after Iran's peak electricity consumption hovered around 79,000 megawatts last summer.