Tehran, Iran, Sept. 13
Trend:
Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said the government is building 25 thermal power plants across the country.
“Twenty five thermal power plants are under construction, but the exact timing of their completion and inauguration is not yet certain,” Ardakanian told reporters in Tehran, Mehr news agency reported on September 13.
Nearly 5,200 megawatts of electricity will be added to the country’s national power network with the launch of the plants, he added.
Referring to his ministry’s efforts to produce more renewable energies in the country, Ardakanian said, “Currently, 45 percent of our renewable energies are generated through wind plants and 35 percent via solar plants”.
He said the construction of the plants are aimed at avoiding any potential power cut in the future.
Iran is one of the most energy-intensive countries in the world, where inefficient energy use amid consumer subsidies has resulted in a per capita energy consumption which is ten times greater than that in the European Union.
The national energy blueprint is now based on expanding renewable power generation and improving energy efficiency by reducing domestic hydrocarbon use which would free up more oil and gas for export.
Currently, the nominal power generation capacity of Iran stands at 78,736 MW.
The country plans to increase its nominal electric generation capacity to 100,000 MW by 2025, 1,000 MW of which should be produced from solar energy.
National electricity demand is forecast to exceed 57,000 MW next summer, as people turn on air-conditioners to alleviate simmering temperatures.