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Iran to start works on power grid link-up with Qatar: Minister

Iran’s Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian

Iran’s Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian says the country will soon start works on linking up its electricity grid to the neighboring Qatar.

Speaking to the Iranian state TV on Saturday, Mehrabian said that Iran and Qatar had signed an agreement earlier this month to link up their energy grids.

“The document on link-up was signed during President Ebrahim Raeisi’s trip to Qatar and the study and execution operations will begin soon,” said the minister.

He said the link-up with Qatar will enable Iran to increase its hard currency revenues from electricity exports.

Iran’s power grid is currently connected to seven neighboring states.

Government estimates suggest that the country exports electricity over nearly 10 months of the year while limited imports takes place during hot summer months and over the winter when power plants in Iran are faced with a shortage of fuel.

Same estimates show that annual revenues derived from exports of electricity, which account for a small part of Iran’s total power output, is almost equal to the income obtained from selling electricity to domestic customers.

Mehrabian’s comments suggested that Iran will be able to allocate more electricity supplies to exports in the upcoming years.

He said a long-anticipated link-up of Iranian and Russian power grids through Azerbaijan could significantly boost Iranian electricity exports revenues.

The minister said the link-up with Russia could take place within a year as he added that consulting firms commissioned by the Energy Ministry for the project have made good progress in carrying out feasibility studies.


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