Iran resolute to increase renewables capacity
Iran is after boosting its renewable energies capacity, said Iran’s energy minister urging relevant bodies to spare no efforts to this end.
Reza Ardakanian called for necessary cooperation and coordination to raise the capacity of new energies in the country, reported Fars News Agency.
He was speaking at the 11th Iran International Renewable Energy, Lighting and Energy Saving Exhibition, titled ‘Opportunities and Challenges of Development of Renewable Energies’, held in Tehran from February 21 to 24.
The minister pointed to the development of renewable energies and added, “Boosting the capacities of new energies requires coordination and cooperation of Renewable Energy Organization of Iran (SUNA), ministries of oil and energy as well as other relevant organizations.”
Earlier this month, Ardakanian said that the power generation of the country has increased 11.4 times since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
According to statistics, Iran’s global ranking in power generation improved from 38 to 14 and presently, the Ministry of Energy is exchanging electricity with neighboring countries.
He was speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Energy in which he evaluated the performance of his ministry in the past forty years.
“With coordination made in this respect, a contract will be inked between Iran and Iraq to export electricity to the neighboring country under a three-year plan,” he added.
The level of cooperation will include the construction of a power plant, modernization of power plants and reduction of power grid losses in Iraq as well, he maintained.
He drew a comparison between performance of the Ministry of Energy before and after the Islamic Revolution and said, “The power capacity installed hit from 7,000 MW electricity in early years of the Islamic Revolution to 80,000 MW.”
Iran is currently supplying electricity to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, said CEO of Tavanir Company Mohammad Hassan Motavallizadeh on January 4, adding that the country is poised to double the volume of its power export to neighboring countries.
CEO of Tavanir Company, in charge of development of electric power generation, said that the bulk of electricity that Iran is currently exporting to other countries is too little compared to the generated volume, adding that the country presently has the potential to double the bulk of its exports.
Motavallizadeh said that Iran is currently exporting over 1,000 MW electricity to neighboring countries, noting that the major importer of Iran’s electricity is Iraq, followed by Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He maintained that only a very small amount of generated electricity is being exported, adding that Iran can increase the bulk of its electricity exports if neighboring countries would like to place an order for more imports.