Tehran, Iran, July 8
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
Iranian Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian in a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Reza Hakan Tekin expressed willingness from the part of Iran to boost mutual trade in electricity and other forms of energy.
There are many similarities between the Iranian and Turkish power grids, such as production rate, extend of the power lines, and the power grid features.
Commenting on Iran 's power production, Chitchian said Iran produced 270 terawatt hours of electricity last Iranian calendar year (which ended March 20), ISNA news agency reported July 8.
Fifteen percent of Iran 's power plants are hydro-powered while 250 MW is produced from renewable resources, and 1000 MW is derived from the nuclear energy and other from thermal sources.
The Iranian energy minister said the country is able to build power plants with outputs about 160-170 MW.
Iran is currently exporting electricity to Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The country imports power from Turkmenistan and Armenia. It has also power trade with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
He said Iran is willing to improve power trade with Turkey, adding that agreements have been made on further power trade between the two neighboring countries.
Chitchian also said Iran is willing to launch cooperation with Turkey in water resources management.
Itself mostly a dry land, Iran has been threatened by a worsening drought in recent years and the issue of water resources is looming ever larger. Over 90 percent of the country's water consumption goes into agriculture.
The Turkish ambassador for his part expressed happiness over boosting ties with Iran.
Commenting on the country's electricity production and consumption, he said in 2014 Turkey produced 250 terawatt hours of power and consumed 255 terawatt hours. The five extra terawatt hours were bought from Iran.
Edited by CN