The 22nd Iran International Electricity Exhibition will open on Nov. 20 at the Tehran International Exhibition Center with the participation of 372 domestic and foreign companies.
According to data released by the Energy Ministry and the state-run Tavanir (Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company), the objective of the four-day event is to act as a comprehensive resource for those active in the industry, by providing in-depth information about its status and latest trends influencing its progress, the Energy Ministry’s news service Paven reported.
The exhibition, which will end on Nov. 23, covers a variety of fields, including lighting, wire and cable, electrical panels, electrical equipment, automation and instrumentation systems, and transmission lines.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, the exhibit was only open for experts, officials and businessmen active in the industry, but it will be open to public this year.
A total of 372 prominent electrical companies, equipment manufacturers and vendors from Iran, South Korea, Spain, China, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Finland and Japan will participate in the exhibition.
According to Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian, there is a link between economic growth and power consumption, and as long as the latter is not used wisely, the former cannot thrive.
Iran has access to huge hydrocarbon resources and the best strategy to take advantage of them is to convert fossil fuel energy to electricity to not only meet domestic needs but also to generate revenue via export.
“As an important production factor, electricity can and should help us manufacture value-added goods, which would create jobs in other sectors,” he added.
Referring to the power deficit in summer, Mehrabian noted that industries were adversely affected between June and October, as demand outweighed supply by 10,000 megawatts that was unprecedented over the last half century.
Substantial Growth
Power sector has experienced a substantial growth in the last four decades, as installed capacity has grown from 10 GW in 1980 to 90 GW. Mehrabian said consumption patterns should be modified otherwise power outages will keep taking a heavy toll on industries.
He noted that as the number of electricity meters jumps by half a million per year, lack of investment will not only hamper economic development but could also hinder normal life.
The installed power capacity of 90 GW is not sufficient to meet current demand and lack of investment is causing distress, as the key sector has already faced shortages, he added.
Power consumption in Iran grows by 5-6% per year, but expansion plans have been undermined by financial restraints, management issues and the domination of energy subsidies.
According to a recent statement issued by the US Energy Information Administration, electricity consumption around the world continues to rise faster than the population, which is leading to an increase in the average power consumed per person.
EIA said electricity around the world is mostly used in buildings for lighting and appliances, in industrial processes for producing goods, and in transportation for powering rail and light-duty vehicles.
It said growth in global electricity consumption is tied to economic growth, but that relationship may differ, depending on the country.
"Producing a service with greater economic value does not necessarily require more electricity than a lower-value service," the statement said, noting that nearly all of the increase in global electricity consumption can be attributed to developing countries outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The average amount of electricity consumed per person, also referred to as per capita electricity consumption, reflects possible changes in the composition of an economy, as in the shift to more energy-intensive industries, and changes in service demand, such as growing demand for air conditioning and appliances.
