This file photo shows power transmission lines between Iran and its neighbors.
Iran’s Energy Minister Majid Namjou says the Islamic Republic’s electricity exports will increase 32 percent by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20), hitting 10 billion kilowatt hours (kWh).
Iran’s power exports stood at 6.8 billion kWh last year, Namjou said on Monday.
The Iranian minister said that the amount would be exported to neighboring countries.
Iran is currently exchanging electricity with Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey.
Earlier in February, Namjou said the country was planning to export electricity to Syria and Lebanon through Iraq’s power grid.
He said Iran is capable of exporting 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Iraq, adding that Syria had also requested 500 MW of electricity.
Seeking to become a major regional exporter of electricity, Iran has attracted more than USD 1.1 billion in investments to build three new power plants.
According to the Iranian energy minister, by the end of the Fifth Economic Development Plan (March 2010-March 2015), Iran will boost its electricity generation capacity by 25 gigawatts to reach 73 gigawatts.
YH/HMV/HJL
