QUETTA:
Iran has approved a project which will provide 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Balochistan through the Zahedan-Quetta transmission line, Iranian Consul General Seyad Hussan Yahyavi said on Tuesday.
Addressing a news conference on the eve of the Iranian revolution anniversary at the Iranian Consulate here, Yahyavi said his country is ready to extend its cooperation to Pakistan and initiate more projects to meet the country’s energy needs.
“Iran is already supplying power to various townships that share borders with Iran in Pakistani Balochistan. Iran started the project by supplying 1,000 MW of electricity to Quetta through Taftan, the only legal crossing and trade point with Iran,” he said.
He added, however, that the security situation in Pakistan was an obstacle, and the Pakistani government needs to improve the situation for investors.
Commenting on the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, the Iranian diplomat said Tehran had completed work on its own end with the help of a German firm, while Pakistan itself seemed uninterested. “Perhaps some countries are building pressure on Pakistan to not buy gas from Iran,” he said – although he remained optimistic that work from Pakistan’s side may soon speed up.
Responding to a query about a recent border violation by Iranian security guards, Yahyavi said Iran had never been involved in operations in Pakistan and considered Pakistan “a brother country”.
He explained further, answering a query about an earlier killing of Pakistani nationals by Iranian guards in Washuk district: “In some townships, the bordering areas are not clearly demarcated or identified with Pakistan – thus such incidents are common not only in this region but also across the world. However, Iran had formed a border security committee to prevent such incidents and to curb smuggling”.
Iran trade with Pakistan is currently worth $1.5 billion annually, and Tehran would like to increase this to $5 billion, Yahyavi said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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To the best of our understanding the installed capacity in Iran is of the order of 6000-7000 MW. How can Iran export 1000 MW to Pakistan. Is this another kite flying exercise?
we should priorities gas it is more of a problem
Bravo Iran. We love you.
@CK: This is the idea behind the recent currency swap agreement signed between Pakistan and Iran.
I think it is a good news. Need to have the grid connected. Happens all around the world, just not in our world.
1000 mw is a huge supply - i think half of Baluchistan can live with it happily - with low distance between the source and consumers, transmission losses will not be born by the consumers like in rest of Pakistan. We can't trust Americans and EU companies build power plants in Baluchistan because of hidden agendas - and Pakistan even if start trying now to electrify those far flung areas of Pakistan - it will take ten years. A very good idea why not try importing from other neighboruing countries to electrify Gilgit Baltistan too.
Pakistan and Iran should work together despite the pressure from US, relations needs to be strengthened more and more
Iran should sell Pakistan cheap oil, gas and electricity and in return we will sell them agricultural and meat related products. No need for exchange of currency.
There is four days cooking gas load shedding in my town, imagine how it effects people's daily life, on top of that gas filling stations are closed for most of the week, no public transport after 15:00 hour. We need gas Sir, our establishment has failed in resolving our day to day problems, please do some thing about it. Thanks