Iran to triple electricity exports to Pakistan

Islamabad, Nov 20 (ANI): Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad has said that the Islamic Republic will triple its electricity exports to Pakistan to help the Asian country ease its power shortages.

Pointing to a recent proposal by the Pakistani government on increasing power import from Iran, The Nation quoted Behzad, as saying: "Electricity exports to Pakistan will increase step by step."

He added that Iran currently exports about 100 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan.

He also announced Iran's readiness to exports its surplus electricity to all neighbouring countries, adding that Tehran's power grid will soon be connected to those of southern Persian Gulf littoral states.

Behzad also stressed that Iran's power exports are expected to reach one billion dollars in the current Iranian year (started March 21).

Earlier in June, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou had said that the country was prepared to increase its electricity exports to Pakistan by 1,000 megawatts by the next three years. The minister further explained that Iran is setting up a new electricity grid to deliver its electricity to Pakistan.

Iran's electricity network is connected into the power grids of seven neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. (ANI)