KARAJ, Iran - The Iranian Energy Minister said the Islamic Republic ranks 8th in generating electricity in the world. Majid Namjou told IRNA news agency on Tuesday that Iran currently has 51 power plants with a capacity to produce 57,000 megawatts of electricity per day.

He said presently eight electric power plants are being built by the private sector with a capacity to produce 5,000 megawatts of electric power.

He noted that 2 billion euros have been allocated for the construction of these plants which will come on stream in three years.

Iran has exported more than 5.5 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) of electricity to its neighboring countries during the past Iranian calendar year (ending March 20).

Iran's Energy Ministry said in a statement on Monday that new data shows a 180 percent growth in electricity exports compared with corresponding figures in the previous year, IRNA reported.

On Sunday, Namjou said Iran's electricity network has integrated into power grids of seven neighboring countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

He further pointed out that Iran also plans to connect its national power network to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Russia, India, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Syria and Oman are the new countries that have asked Iran for the supply of electricity.

According to Namjou, the Islamic Republic has the capability to turn into a regional electricity hub.

... Payvand News - 09/08/10 ... --