Dec. 9, 2011 - McClatchy - pro.energycentral.com

A new electricity line from Iran to Armenia and Georgia will send Iran's electricity through to Europe, said Iran's Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad, Pana news reports.

The completion of a 230 KW electric cable from Iran to Armenia will provide the possibility of connecting Iran's and Georgia's electricity network, whilst increasing the overall capacity to trade energy with Iran's neighbours to 400 KW, the minister told Pana. Currently Georgia's electricity is routed through Azerbaijan.

Armenia's minister of energy welcomed the project last week and said it would triple the electricity exchanged between Armenia and Georgia, Pana reported.

Iran and Azerbaijan are currently discussing a project to connect Iran's electricity network to Russia while talks are also under way with Turkey to connect Iran's grid to Lebanon in addition to plans to connect its network to Persian Gulf countries. If these talks are successful, Iran will be a strong electricity hub in the region. Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan will all buy electricity from Iran.

Iran's capacity to export electricity has increase 24 per cent since the implementation of its targeted subsidies programme and is expected to earn $1 billion by the end of this year (Iran's solar year ends in March), according to Pana.

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