Iran Avoiding Wastage via Synchronization of Power Grid with Iraq

Iran’s synchronization of Amarah-Karkheh 400-KW electricity grid with Iraq for maximum power supply was a great achievement for Tehran to contain wastage of electricity.

Last year, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian and Iraqi Deputy Minister of Electricity Nafaa Abdulsada Ali Al-Hmidawi inaugurated the operation of linking Iran’s power grid to Iraq.

The operation was aimed at bringing more sustainability for Iran and Iraq electricity supply, setting the ground for electricity exports and ensure improvement of the supply grid.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Iran Grid Management Company Davood Farrokhzad said that electricity exports to Iraq will increase through more preparations.

Iranian and Iraqi dispatching centers were connected in Baghdad and the power grids were interlinked, he added.

He said that Iran’s electricity export to Iraq is in its highest level.

Last Wednesday, Ardakanian met with his Iraqi counterpart Majid Mahdi Hantoush to discuss development of cooperation in the field electricity and related areas.

Aradakanian has focused his one-day visit to Iraq on discussions pertaining to promoting bilateral collaboration between the two neighboring nations in the field of electricity, synchronizing power grid between Tehran and Baghdad, cooperating in education, and expansion of power networks.

He is also scheduled to meet with Iraqi top officials in a bid to boost cooperation in the relevant fields.

Back in December 2019, Ardakanian announced that Iran will continue exports of electricity to Iraq by renewing earlier contract.

"Iran has signed a 3-year-long cooperation agreement with Iraq to help the country's power industry in different aspects. The documents states at its end that we will export electricity to Iraq as far as they need," Ardakanian told FNA on December 9, 2019.

The contract to "export Iran's electricity" to Iraq will be extended, he added.

Ardakanian also said that Iran and Iraq's power grids have become synchronized since a month ago.

In 2004 Iran started selling electricity to Iraq. Iran electricity exports to the western neighbor are at its highest level of 1,361 megawatts per day now.

The new Amarah-Karkheh 400-KV transmission line stretching over 73 kilometers, is now synchronized to provide electricity to both countries. It also paves the way for increasing export to power-hungry Iraq in the near future.

With synchronization of the two grids, the quality of electricity in Iraq will improve.

According to official data, 82% of Iraq's electricity is generated by thermal power plants that use gas as feedstock. This is expected to reach 84% by 2027.

source: Fars News