Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar.31
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Some 55 percent of thermal power plants in Iran have been transferred to the private sector.
Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian said the ministry purchases electricity that is generated by thermal power plants of the private sector, Iran 's IRNA news agency reported on March 31.
Iran's electricity generation capacity is currently 68,932 megawatts, of which 57,541 megawatts is generated by thermal power plants, 9,686 megawatts is generated by hydroelectric power plants, 1,020 megawatts is generated by nuclear power plants, 466 megawatts is generated by distributed generation power plants, and 219 megawatts is generated by renewable energy power plants.
The output of Iran 's thermal power plants has increased by 70 percent from 2002 to 2012.
Majid Salehi, managing director of Iran 's Power Industry Development Organization, said in August 2014 that Iran has put 12 new thermal power plants into operation.
Six thermal power plants have been established by the private sector, he added.
"The 12 power plants have a total power generation capacity of 1934 megawatts," he noted.
Power generation capacity in Iran has grown by seven percent annually during the past 10 years. The figure has averaged 3.5 percent in the world.
Iran is currently the biggest electricity producer in the Middle East.
Edited by CN