Iran signed an agreement to increase electricity exports to Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq in 2015, managing director of the West Regional Electric Company (WREC) said, Mehr news agency reported. Abdolaziz Karimi said, “According to the deal, Iran will increase electricity exports to 20 megawatt (MW) to Iraqi Kurdistan next year.”
WREC, a subsidiary of the Iran Power Generation Transmission & Distribution Management Company (Tavanir) already exports electricity to three regions in Iraq, including Khanaqin close to the Iranian border, Diyala governorate in eastern Iraq, and Penjwin in Sulaymaniyah governorate.
In November Iran extended a contract to export electricity to Iraq by the end of 2015, according to which, the volume of export will remain the same. The two neighbors had already reached an agreement in October to extend power trade by the end of 2014.
Iran will export 1,000-1,500 MW electricity to Iraq over the next year. The volume of exports in the cold season, as well as the rate of exports will not change for next year. The country 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.
Electricity exports to neighbors increased by more than 4 percent in the March-September period and production increased by 7 percent compared to the same period last year.
