TEHRAN – Energy ministers of Iran and Pakistan met and held talks on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Ministerial Conference held in Qingdao, China.

In this meeting, Abbas Ali-Abadi and Sardar Awais Leghari discussed future collaboration, particularly focusing on the development of electricity projects in border regions, IRNA reported.

In this regard, Awais Leghari underscored the importance of cross-border energy projects in boosting connectivity and trade.

Exchanging views on the need for enhanced energy connectivity amongst the regional countries, both sides underlined the importance of strengthening energy cooperation in power plant operations and maintenance. They emphasized the need for regular coordination and communication.

Both ministers also discussed that effective plant management was essential for sustaining energy output and meeting the growing demands of the region.

In March 2023, Iran’s former Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian announced the completion of a power transmission line to Pakistan with the aim of boosting electricity exchanges between the two countries.

The two countries signed a contract that month to officially use the mentioned transmission line for exchanging up to 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

"The electricity transmission line between Iran and Pakistan was designed and built in less than a year with a capacity of 200 megawatts," Mehrabian told the press.

“The necessary experiments and tests have been carried out on this line and it is now electrified,” he said.

Emphasizing the necessity of developing and deepening the relations between the two countries, he added: "It is hoped that we will witness the development of electricity exchanges between the two countries with the final agreement following the formation of technical and commercial teams."

EF/MA

Photo: Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Ali-Abadi (R) and his Pakistani counterpart Sardar Awais Leghari meet on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Ministerial Conference held in Qingdao, China on Thursday.