Electricity Exports Increase

Iran will export some $1.2 billion worth of electricity by the end of the current year (started March 20), said deputy energy minister.

Mohammad Behzad said the country’s capacity to export electricity to Turkey will increase by fourfold in the near future, Mehr News Agency reported.

He added that the volume of electricity exported to neighboring countries increased by 50 percent in the first half of the current year compared to the figure for the corresponding period of the preceding year.

The official also said that Iran is exporting electricity to various countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Nakhichivan, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Behzad went on to say that Iran’s power exports to Turkey increased to 400 megawatt/hour (MG/H), and that based on an agreement reached between the two countries a number of new electricity posts will be installed in the Turkey’s Van province.

An increase in the electricity generation capacity of the country will help boost power export to the Middle East countries, he said.

Iran ranked first in the region in terms of nominal power plant capacity. Some 98 percent of the equipment required by the power industry are being produced in the country.

The Islamic Republic seeks to become a major regional exporter of electricity and has attracted more than $1.1 billion in investments to build three new power plants.