Iran plans giant boost in power exports to Pakistan

Senior Iranian energy officials announced that the country plans to triple its power supplies to Pakistan to help the neighboring country come along with its energy needs specially in the cold season. Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad on Saturday pointed to the recent proposal by the Pakistani government to increase power import from Iran and said, "Electricity exports to Pakistan will increase step by step." Pakistan is grappling with an acute energy shortage specially in winter, and the country's officials have cautioned that they would not supply gas to industries for two months in this winter in a bid to heat homes. According to an MNA report, the official 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 neighboring countries, adding that Iran's power grid will soon be connected to those of Southern Persian Gulf littoral states. The Iranian deputy energy minister also noted that Iran's power exports are expected to reach $1 billion in the current Iranian year (started March 21). Earlier in June, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou said that the country is 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 neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.