TEHRAN - Iran will establish two new power transmission lines to boost electricity exports to Turkmenistan, said an official with the Iranian Energy Ministry.

 

 

The two 400KV lines will provide the opportunity to exchange electricity among Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Abdolhamid Farzam told the Mehr News Agency.

 

He added that Iran plans to connect its power grid to the six countries of the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region.

 

Energy Minister Majid Namjou said in May that the government plans to turn the country into a center for the transit of electricity in the region. 

 

“The government is following up many development plans outside the country pertaining to power and energy and seeks to emerge as the regional power transit hub,” Namjou added, according to Press TV. 

 

He further stated that the country seeks to provide countries including, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan with electricity. 

 

Namjou underlined the necessity to prepare the infrastructures for the transfer of nuclear electricity from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Russia to other countries in the region.

 

By the end of the Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2015), Iran will boost its electricity generation capacity by 25GW to reach 73GW, Namjou said.

Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad said in April that the energy ministry will roll out power projects that will increase Iran’s electricity generation capacity by 5 GW this calendar year.

 He added that over 10 GW should be added to the generation capacity of hydroelectric and thermal power plants by August 2013, the last month of President Ahmadinejad’s administration, the Fars News Agency reported.

Iran’s nominal electricity generation capacity stands at 63 around GW, ranking the country at the 15th place in the world, an official with Iran Power Generation Transmission and Distribution Management Company (TAVANIR) stated.

 “Iran is the top electricity producer in the Middle East, as well,” Abdorrasoul Pishahang told the IRNA News Agency.