First VP: Iran ready to build power plants in other countries
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is capable of turning into the region’s major power generation and distribution hub.”
He also inaugurated a 1.3-million-ton steel plant in Chadormalu of Yazd Province.
Earlier, Managing Director of Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company (CMIC) Mohammad Nourian said the plant is expected to produce 300,000 tons of steel billet by March 21, 2018.
Turning to the 500-megawatt combined cycle power plant, he said the station, which was constructed in three phases incurring an investment of $265.32 million, has now been linked to the nationwide power network.
CMIC has always been focused on creating added-value in the production process, he pointed out.
“At present, the company has come to a stage where it mines the raw materials and then, processes them into concentrates in five production lines with a total annual capacity of 10.5 million tons.”
CMIC chief noted that his company provides feedstock to Mobarakeh Steel Company in the central Iranian province of Isfahan and Khouzestan Steel Company, southwest Iran, in addition to supplying raw materials to Ardakan’s pelletizing plant whose output, since March 2017, has reached 3.7 million tons and will soon near 4 million tons.
Nourian added the next step would be to invest in the construction of two units — one for the production of sponge iron and the other for producing steel billet for Iranian Ghadir Iron and Steel Company and Iranian Arfa Iron and Steel Company, respectively. The CMIC will deliver a part of its pellets to these plants, he stated.
He said his company will supply surplus pellet production to other steel mills.
The CMIC chief said, as the last link in the steel production chain, his company has invested in a rolled steel plate and steel billet production project undertaken by Sarmad (Abarkooh) Iron and Steel Industries Company in Yazd Province which, upon completion, is expected to produce 500,000 tons of different types of round bars per annum.
The company’s managing director said at present, CMIC offers direct employment for over 7,000 employees.
In relevant remarks in January, a senior official said Iran is mulling plans to boost power exchanges with the regional states, especially its neighbors.
Energy Ministry is planning to increase electric power exchanges with regional countries, including Russia, Tajikistan and the Persian Gulf littoral states, Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister Alireza Daemi said.
Iran is in pursuit of creating an electric power transmission network in the region, he added.
The ministry, based on its vision plan, is working to turning the country into a strategic electric power hub, Daemi said.
“The current power grid network and the exchanges of electric power enable Iran to be connected to Georgia via Armenia’s power grid and to Slovenia and Europe via Turkey,” the deputy energy minister said.
Daemi said that presently Iran is exchanging electric power with seven countries, including Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iraq as well as the Nakhchivan.
Moreover, he said that Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan import electricity from Iran.