Iran is slated to expand cooperation with Germany to produce clean energy.
Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian made the announcement after a meeting with the State Secretary of Germany’s Ministry for Environment and Building Gunther Adler.
“Due to a 5.5% growth in electricity consumption, Iran’s power plants are expected to produce 45,000-50,000 megawatts of electricity in 10 years,” Chitchian was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
"Wind, solar and hydroelectric plants, as well as converting gas-powered plants to combined-cycle plants, are top priorities since they help reduce greenhouse gases.”
Emphasizing the numerous areas of bilateral cooperation, Adler hoped Tehran and Berlin will mark a new era of cooperation in the post-sanctions period.
The German minister pointed to the achievements of his recent journey to Iran and said, “Now is the time to go one step forward and offer more precise suggestions for the expansion of partnerships. Several cooperation schemes have been planned … We will hopefully implement them as soon as possible."
Adler welcomed the Energy Ministry's plans for cooperation in clean energies and said: “Cooperation to reduce greenhouse gases is a global responsibility and this plan cannot be fulfilled single-handedly.”
Chitchian referred to a 15-year drought in Iran and called for partnership between the two countries concerning environmental policymaking. With Iran’s annual precipitation only a third of the global average, heavy overconsumption has ravaged its water resources. A 2013 study by the World Resources Institute ranked Iran as the world’s 24th most water-stressed nation, putting it at extremely high risk of future water scarcity.
Average rainfall is around 750 millimeters in the world, while Iran's average precipitation has fallen to 205 mm in the past 15 years, down from 250 mm before a long and hard drought cast a shadow over the country.
"About 58% of wastewater in Iran flow back into the environment, despite the implementation of wastewater treatment projects nationwide," he said, calling for more investment in this key sector.
Adler also met with the Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abass Akhoundi on Saturday and signed an agreement to develop the New Hashtgerd City's pilot project.
