Iran's energy exchange with neighboring countries up by 20%

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) "Given that Iran's electricity grid was connected to those of the Turkmenistan and Iraq late summer of the last year, energy exchanges between the Islamic Republic and its neighboring countries have increased by 20 percent compared to last year, noted deputy Energy Minister Reza Ahmadian."

He also said that currently, Iran delivers some 80 to 100 megawatt electricity to Iraq through a 132 kV power line and exports about 70 megawatts to Turkey however, he added, in summer "we import the commodity from Azerbaijan Republic."

The deputy energy minister also noted that while Iran exports electricity to the Republic of Nakhichevan throughout the year, it imports it from Turkmenistan all the year round, Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported on Monday.

Elaborating on the electricity transactions between Iran and its neighboring countries, the official further explained that the agreement signed between the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and Republic of Azerbaijan has paved the grounds for connecting Iran's electricity grid to that of the Russia through other countries such as Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan therefore, the issue of connecting the electricity grids of all the countries in the region is facilitated.

He also stated that, Russia is interested in studying other routes besides that of the Republic of Azerbaijan to convey Iran's electricity to that country.

RA/MA

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MNA