Iran to Turn Qeshm Gas Into Electricity

Iran's Press TV has reported that the country will soon launch a plan to generate electricity using the natural gas of its Qeshm island fields for the purpose of exports.

Managing Director of the National Iranian Offshore Oil Company (NIOOC) Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh said his company has signed a cooperation agreement with Iran Power Plant Projects Management Co. (MAPNA) to this end.

Under the contract, Zirakchianzadeh said, up to 6,000 megawatts of electricity will be produced from the natural gas fields of the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm in two phases, which will consequently be exported to neighboring countries including the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Pakistan.

The Iranian Energy Ministry announced on Monday that the country exported more than 6,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity to its neighbors in the past nine months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), reflecting a 23.75-percent growth over the same period last year.

Iran's electricity network is linked to the power grids of seven neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan.

According to Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad, Iran's power exports are expected to reach USD 1 billion in the current Iranian year.