Iran ready to connect electricity grid with Europe

Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said on Thursday that Iran’s energy infrastructure in the oil, gas and electricity sectors can be a good platform for the transfer of energy to Europe.

Addressing an online meeting dubbed, ‘Europe-Caspian,’ held in Berlin to study issues relating to the development of economic cooperation, he said that Iran, with its huge energy resources, skilled manpower, and facilities in the field of energy can pave the ground for the transit of goods from the Caspian Sea littoral states and prosperity of international transport corridors, as well as energy corridors, especially the electricity transmission corridor, IRNA reported.

“In order to help promote communications of landlocked neighbors with international markets, we have created a huge transit infrastructure in our country and have demonstrated in practice our commitment to regional development and peace and stability,” Ardakanian said.

He pointed out that having a major percentage of proven oil and gas reserves in the world, regional states must strengthen relations in a bid to regulate production and export policies of such huge resources and potentially play a role in determining the price and supply of these resources worldwide.

“We are ready to connect Iran’s electricity network, as the largest power generator in the Middle East, with European countries, and to provide the ground for exchange, especially the export of electricity as green energy, with Europe,” Ardakanian said.

Given growing regional and global energy needs, and insufficient investment in the field, as well as Europe’s increasing needs, this area can become a sustainable area of cooperation, he noted.

Ardakanian added that by investing in energy production in Iran, Europe can meet part of its future energy needs on a sustainable basis.