Tehran,Iran. Oct.10
Trend:
Regarding the ability of Iran's power industry to meet Iraq`s needs in all sectors, the chairman of the board of directors of Iran's Electricity Industry Syndicate and member of the board of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, Alireza Kolahi told Trend that Iran's power industry is the most advanced in the region.
"There are two dimensions in the export: energy exports, which is carried out by the government, and the technical and engineering services that can be attained in the private sector at the highest quality,” he said.
“The private sector's capabilities include construction of power plants, transmission lines, post construction, cable exports and transformers. Given the rise in population and consumption of Iraq, Iraq`s investment in this area will be increasing in the coming years.”
Citing to Iraqi government's plan to export 11 million barrels of oil and gas per day and the revenue it earns, according to the International Energy Agency`s data, he said Iraq will invest $300 billion in power industry in the next 15 years.
“Iran's Electricity Industry Syndicate has informed the president in detail,” says Alireza Kolahi . “Iraq will invest an average of $2 billion annually in power industry, while 15 percent of the investment cost in each sector belongs to electricity.”
“Iran’s power industry is the most advanced in the region. The country holds 7 percent of the world's copper mines, which are the main raw materials of this industry.
"Iran can increase its exports to Iraq by more than $1 billion. Even with 30-40 percent of this market, we will increase Iran`s non-oil exports to Iraq by $100 billion,” he said.
Tehran stopped supplying electricity to Iraq in July due to unpaid bills and because of a rise in Iranian consumption during the summer. The power shortage in Iraq sparked protests in Basra and other cities, as people blamed what they called an inept and corrupt Iraqi government.
Saudi Arabia offered last month to sell electricity to Baghdad at a discount, part of an effort by the kingdom to curb the influence of its rival Iran in Iraq.
Iran announced in August that it had resumed supplies of electricity to Iraq and other neighboring states.