A group of Japanese experts will team up with Iran's state-run Institute for International Energy Studies to develop what will be the country's first major roadmap for energy management, deputy for international affairs at the IIES said.
"An agreement will be signed with Japan in the near future to draw a framework for energy management policies in Iran," Majid Mohammadi Hosseinabadi was quoted as saying by ISNA on Saturday.
Hosseinabadi added that a preliminary agreement has been signed with Japan's Association for Middle East Studies on transfer of expertise and technology with a draft agreement in the works.
"We are keen to carry out extensive research [on energy management] with Japan in cooperation with Iran Fuel Conservation Company," said the official, adding that the program will be fully bankrolled by the Japanese side.
Touted as an energy superpower, Iran sits on some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves, but relatively effortless and inexpensive access to abundant resources has led to unrestrained energy use in the country's industrial and residential sectors in equal measure.
The profligate consumption pattern, coupled with financial restraints of sanctions, has prodded the government into addressing the exacerbating issue by turning to Japan, one of the most power-efficient nations, for help.
Japan used to supply around 25% of its energy demand from nuclear reactors, but after the Fukushima plant incident in 2011, the country rolled out a major program that set a startling example for tackling energy crisis with lasting impacts.
It successfully averted seemingly inevitable large-scale power cuts in the aftermath of the nuclear accident by taking energy efficiency measures.
But Tokyo took things further by encouraging a conservative mindset that called for increasing temperatures in homes and offices, and replacing inefficient light bulbs, among other things.
Japan also produces about 10% of its electricity from renewable sources but aims to increase the share to 20% by 2020.
Iran has taken small but necessary steps toward boosting energy management, particularly in the power sector. For one, a program has been developed by Iran Energy Efficiency Organization to enhance lighting control systems.
