Iran to export 1,000 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan - minister

Apr 07, 2007 - BBC Monitoring

Iran has reached an agreement in principle with Pakistan to export 1,000 megawatts of electricity to that country.

Iran's Energy Minister Parviz Fattah told reporters after a meeting with Pakistan's Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi that the two countries had agreed to exchange electric energy. Fattah added that under the agreement, Iran will increase its electricity export to Pakistan to 1,000 megawatts. Turning to the agreement, he said that the two sides are preparing the text of the agreement which is expected to be inked with an aim of strengthening mutual ties in water and electricity sector. "During the recent months, the two countries reached a consensus on the export of electricity," he said, adding that according to the agreement, the export of electricity to Pakistan has increased from 20 to 100 megawatts at present. Stressing mutual interest in development of relations on water and electricity sectors, Fattah noted that Iran and Pakistan have agreed to establish power plant, dam, exchange of technology, and export of technical and engineering services. The Pakistani minister is due to visit water and power facilities of Iran, he added. Jatoi, on his part, expressed satisfaction with the expansion of economic cooperation between the two friendly countries, saying, "We are to upgrade bilateral relations in water and electricity sectors as well as the exchange of technical know-how in this respect." Pointing to President Pervez Musharraf's order for adoption of new investment policy, the Pakistani minister added that given the policy of President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad, the grounds have been prepared for export of electricity from Iran to Pakistan. "Islamabad is to purchase all its needed transformers from Tehran and benefit from Iran's experiences in this field", he underlined. Jatoi noted that he is in Iran to submit a message from Pakistan's president to the Iranian government and people, saying that his country considers Iran as an important neighbouring country.

Source: IRNA website, Tehran, in English 1540 gmt 7 Apr 07