Report: Pakistan in Talks with Iran to Increase Electricity Imports

Iranian and Pakistani officials are in talks over the import of 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity by Islamabad to overcome its power outages as soon as possible, media reports said.
A two-member delegation will visit Iran from March 17-18, 2014 to finalize an agreement on imports of 1,000 megawatts of electricity, the Pakistani ‘Business Recorder’ reported on Friday.

On Thursday, Managing Director of Sistan-and-Balouchestan Regional Electric Company Moheb Ali Qazaq Jahed stated that Iran plans to increase electricity exports to Pakistan by 100 MW per day.

“Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan currently exports 70 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan,” said Jahed, adding, “Tehran will soon sign a new contract with Islamabad for the supply of an extra 100 MW.”

According to the project, Iran would build a power station in its Sistan-and-Baluchestan Province near the border with Pakistan to generate electricity for export.

A 500-kilovolt power transmission line, stretching for 700 kilometers (about 435 miles), would also be set up from the Iran-Pakistan border to the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta.

Pakistan is battling chronic electricity shortage, which is inflaming public anger and stifling industrial output, as power outages can last eight to 10 hours a day in cities, with much more frequent cuts in rural areas.

Electricity imports from Iran reportedly cost Pakistan around $3 million a month.