Reuters: Iran and Turkey have started upgrading electricity transmission lines to boost capacity to 2,000 megawatts in two years, Iranian officials said on Thursday. By Thomas Grove
ISTANBUL, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Iran and Turkey have started upgrading electricity transmission lines to boost capacity to 2,000 megawatts in two years, Iranian officials said on Thursday.
Iran currently exports electricity to energy-hungry Turkey via two transmission lines with a combined capacity of 250 megawatts.
“We have already started reinforcements on one line and plan reinforcements on the other. We believe Turkey is making the same efforts on its half,” said Hamid Farzan, head of planning at Iran’s state-owned Tavanir, on the sidelines of a conference.
Turkey and Iran will share the $1.5 billion cost of the upgrade project, said Farzam, reinforcing previous comments made by another Iranian official.
“The project will increase electricity trade between the two countries to 2,000 megawatts … It should be finished in two years,” said Tavanir CEO and Massoud Hojjat.
Defying opposition from the United States, Turkey has signed a series of deals with energy rich Iran. Turkey relies almost entirely on energy imported from Iran and Russia.
Washington has urged its allies, including NATO-member Turkey, to cut business ties with Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme. Western countries say Iran is trying to build nuclear bombs, though Tehran says its aims are purely peaceful.
Hojjat said Iran also plans to increase exports to Pakistan, to 1,100 megawatts.
Pakistan signed an accord in February to gain access to 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran for its newly built Gwadar deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea.
Under the agreement, Iran’s Tavanir will provide electricity to Pakistan’s state-owned Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the authority said.
