National Grids of Iran, Iraq Synchronized
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran connected its national grid to Iraq on Friday in a bid to help the Arab country reduce its power outages.
The power grids of Iran and Iraq were synchronized in a ceremony held on Friday with Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian and the Iraqi deputy minister of electricity.
Earlier this year, the two countries had reached an agreement to connect their power grids by the end of 2019.
Speaking to Tasnim, Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Homayoun Ha’eri said with the synchronization of the national grids, the two countries would witness the increase of electricity exchanges.
According to Ardakanian, Iran’s exports of electricity to neighboring states, particularly to Iraq, reached a record high last year.
Ardakanian and his Iraqi counterpart Luay al-Khatteeb signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and a contract in February to boost cooperation between the two countries in the electricity industry.
On October 16, a US State Department spokesman said Washington has once again exempted Iraq from its sanctions against Iran, allowing the Arab country to continue gas and electricity imports from the Islamic Republic for another four-month period.
Power cuts in Iraq have often prompted protests against the authorities. Iran supplies enough gas to power 2,500 megawatts (MW), as well as providing Iraq with 1,200 MW in direct power supplies, according to media reports.