TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran's electricity exports rose nearly 25 percent in the first six months of the Iranian calendar year (March 21-Sept. 22) compared to the same period last year, Financial Tribune daily reported on Monday.
"Around 5.16 million kilowatt-hours of electricity were exported to neighbors in the six months," Houshang Falahatian, deputy Energy Minister, was quoted as saying.
Under swap deals, Iran exports electricity to Armenia and Azerbaijan in winter and imports it when domestic demand soars in summer, Falahatian said.
Besides, Iran has embarked on joint ventures to synchronize its electricity network with those of regional countries to increase power grid sustainability.
"Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (known as Tavanir) is in talks to synchronize Iran's electricity network with that of Iraq that could potentially be extended to other neighbors," Falahatian said.
"The initiative will not only pave the way to connect the electricity grid with other neighboring states, namely Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, but also enables Iran to promote its electricity exports to Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
The official also noted that despite an increase in domestic electricity consumption over the past years, the country's revenue from power exports amounted to 3.37 billion U.S. dollars in 2013-2017, according to the report.
