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SATBA: Iraq seeks Iran’s assistance in developing green energy projects
A senior Iranian energy official announced on Saturday that Iraq has approached Iran for cooperation and the transfer of expertise in renewable energy, although discussions have yet to become substantive.
Mohsen Tarztalab, Iran's deputy energy minister and head of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), said Iran was prepared to share its experience in developing solar power plants and could also undertake renewable energy projects in Iraq.
"Iraq has requested cooperation and the transfer of experience in the renewable energy sector, but it is not yet very serious," Tarztalab told the ILNA news agency.
He said Iran could also provide renewable energy expertise to other interested countries and transfer technical know-how developed by its power industry.
Tarztalab said Iran sees potential to develop wind power projects in the eastern regions of Khaf and Sistan and Baluchestan, with the possibility of exporting electricity to neighboring Afghanistan.
He added that renewable electricity exports are possible and that investors in the sector would receive the necessary permits from the government.
Currently, private-sector investors are permitted to export up to 10% of their electricity generation, Tarztalab said, adding that the government would consider raising that limit for new investments based on feasibility studies.
Under Iran's current framework, private companies are responsible for securing overseas buyers and marketing the electricity they produce, he said.