Power consumption during the peak hours is projected to increase by 3,000 megawatts in the summer of the next Iranian year (starting March 20, 2016), deputy head for grid planning and development in Iran Power Generation and Transmission Company, also known as Tavanir, said on Saturday.
"Financial constraints have posed serious challenges to the power industry and the situation can take a turn for the worse, as a dramatic rise in electricity demand is projected during the summer days," Ismail Mohseni Kabir.
Pointing to plans for completing new power plants and transmission lines by summer to meet the peak demand, the official noted that Semnan power plant's first phase will go on stream next year to help improve the power grid stability in the south of the country.
Stressing that most of the equipment to construct the power plant has either been ordered or built, he said the power plant's transmission line is ready to become operational.
Seyyed Ali Barband, managing director of Tehran Electricity Distribution Company, believes that power consumption peak demand will experience a dramatic rise as the sanctions have become a thing of the past.
"The government's policy in post-sanctions era is to inject liquidity to businesses and industries. Needless to say, adopting such a policy will boost production and make the economy thrive. However, the policy will bear no fruit unless Tavanir ensures a sustainable power supply to all industrial units," he added.
According to Barband, the peak electricity demand of Tehran's industries will increase by 1,300 MW, a 20% rise, in the post-sanctions era. Iran's installed power capacity is close to 74,000 MW. The country's electricity industry ranks 14th in the world and first in the Middle East in terms of electricity generation. It is the largest exporter and importer of electricity in the Middle East and exports electric power to Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia supply electricity to Iran under a swap agreement.
