Meeting energy needs: Iran approves electricity project for Balochistan
Its consul general speaks about Pak-Iran gas pipeline, bilateral trade.
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.
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.