Iranian private companies are willing and able to help Iraq and Syria in their post-war reconstruction plans by undertaking energy projects, Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said.
"This is the opportune time for our private companies to offer technical expertise and assert their foothold in foreign markets," Ardakanian was quoted as saying by ISNA on Saturday.
Electricity wastage in Iraq exceeds 50% and the private sector can easily reduce it to a great extent in a short time, he noted.
"Plans are underway to synchronize our national power grid with Syria's network via Iraq," he said, adding that Damascus is in need of 800 megawatts of new power and private companies should use this opportunity.
Ardakanian said domestic private companies account for almost 65% of the county's electricity and have invested billions of dollars in energy projects.
There are more than 4,000 private firms involved in different energy projects ranging from power plant construction to dam building.
Ardakanian said Iran’s MAPNA Group has begun construction work on a power plant that will produce 540 MW in Syria’s western port city of Latakia.
Under swap deals, Iran exports power to Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey.
Referring to the third electricity line that is being constructed to connect Iran and Armenia, he noted that the new line will be completed with the help of Iranian engineers by 2019.
The line is part of an agreement involving Iran, Russia, Armenia and Georgia to synchronize their power grids in 2019, paving the way for electricity exchange between Tehran and Moscow.
