Iran Top Producer of Electricity in Region: Energy Minister


Iran Top Producer of Electricity in Region: Energy Minister

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian highlighted the country’s self-sufficiency in the area of power generation and said the Islamic Republic is the top producer of electricity in the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, the energy minister said about 90 percent of power generation equipment, even complicated parts like turbines and generators, are currently manufactured inside the country.

He added that Iran’s capabilities in the area of power generation have developed over the past four decades so much that the country has become the top producer of electricity in the region.

“At present, we have energy exchanges with all the countries that share land borders with us,” he noted.

Iran’s nominal capacity to produce electricity recently reached about 78,000 megawatts (MW) following the connection of a number of power plants to the country’s national grid.

Back in November 2015, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian unveiled plans for an increase in the country’s capacity of electricity generation and exports to neighboring countries.

Iran is now exporting around 12 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to its neighbors each year, while the imports stand at an annual level of 4 billion kWh, the minister said at the time.

The country’s electricity industry ranks 14th in the world and first in the Middle East in terms of electricity generation.

Most Visited in Economy
Top Economy stories
Top Stories