Iran Power Plant Repair Company carries out overhaul operations on power plants with about 10,000-12,000 megawatts of power production capacity per year, the company’s managing director said on Saturday.
“Iran has made such progress in the past few years that sanctions and threats from countries with modern technology will not impede Iranian power plants’ operations,” Einollah Salehi was also quoted as saying by ISNA on the sidelines of a visit by reporters to the company site.
Salehi added that two decades ago, even the installation of turbine blades was monopolized by foreign companies while Iran is currently self-sufficient in the construction of blades and compressors.
According to the official, since the past fiscal year (ended March 20, 2018), during which the import of steam turbine blades was banned by the Energy Ministry, about €15 million were saved in terms of costs.
Salehi noted that a major part of the overhaul of power plants in Iraq and a part of equipment repairs in Turkey are being carried out by Iran.
“Between 90% and 95% of power plants’ overhaul before the approaching hot season has been implemented and it is due to be completed in the coming weeks,” he said.
Iran's power consumption on average has an 8% rise annually, yet the production capacity doubles every 10 years.
"The workforce for conducting the overhaul ought to increase in line with the rise in power consumption and production capacity," he said.
Reducing power wastage in the production, transfer and distribution networks, in addition to enhancing the efficiency of power plants, is the primary goal pursued by the Energy Ministry.
"As per the deal signed with Siemens last year, various types of transformers will be produced in a joint firm, based on the German engineering company’s license, to be sold inside and outside Iran," Arsalan Fathipour, a member of the Electrical Industry Syndicate of Iran, said.
"Based on the agreement with Siemens, a plant will be built for manufacturing power equipment under the license of Siemens," Fathipour said.
Products from the joint venture, such as transformers, can be exported, besides meeting domestic demand.
"Collaboration with Siemens is aimed at accelerating production, reducing costs and expanding the export of electricity equipment," he said.
The firm will be built in Parand, a town about 65 kilometers southwest of Tehran.
Siemens has made notable headways in cooperation with Iran after international economic sanctions were eased in early 2016. The Munich-based engineering and manufacturing company has signed a deal to deliver more than 20 F-class turbines and share expertise in turbine manufacturing as a part of Iran's push to upgrade its aging electricity infrastructure and build power plants with improved efficiency.
Iran has a power production capacity of 80,000 MW.
Oil- and gas-rich Iran largely depends on fossil fuels for power production. More than 80% of the country's electricity output come from thermal plants that burn natural gas or petroleum products for power generation.
In addition, 12,000 MW come from hydroelectric plants and 1,000 MW from the sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr, south of Iran.
