Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 24
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Currently, Iran exchanges energy with all neighboring countries, Vahid Gohari Sadr, the Director General of Iran Power Transmission, Generation and Distribution Company (TAVANIR)'s Foreign Trade Office said at the meeting on “Establishment of regional electricity network and role of Iran in its commercial development”, Tasnim news agency reported.
Moreover, the history of those exchanges exceeds twenty years, he added.
He noted that the significance of routes for exchange of electricity increases from day to day in the whole world and this sphere is in the spotlight.
The history of electricity exchanges of Iran with neighboring countries dates back to 1990s. And this was possible due to the positive covenants and agreements reached by electricity officials of Iran and neighboring countries, he said.
Gohari Sadr said currently the Iranian electricity grid is connected to the Iraqi grid by supplying electricity in the approximate volume of 1,500 megawatts.
This connection has been created by means of one line of 400 kilowatts, one line of 130 kilowatts and two lines of 63 kilowatts each, he added.
“Iraq accounts for the greatest part of total volume of Iranian electricity trade. It is worth mentioning the all time high of 8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity export to Iraq. And currently, approximately 6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity is exported to Iraq,” he explained.
“Iran’s electricity exchange with Turkey stands at approximately 500 megawatts. We hope that by the end of 2019, the facility connecting the Iranian electricity grid to Turkish one near Turkey’s Van city will be commissioned and the volume of electricity exchange will reach 650 megawatts. Since the facility which is under construction now, is a Dual Control (DC) facility, Iran will be able to receive electricity whenever it needs energy,” he said.
Gohari Sadr said the electricity exchange of Iran with Turkmenistan amounts to 350 megawatts. After completion of work on connection lines in Sarakhs county of Iran, the volume of electricity exchange will reach 700 megawatts.
The Tavanir official also touched upon Iran’s proposal on establishment of regional electricity market under Economic Cooperation Organization. He noted that to date, three meetings have been held regarding this issue. It has been decided that a pilot plan to synchronize the electricity markets in Iran and Turkey will be implemented and other countries will join the plan gradually.