IRAN EXPANDS TARGETS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Iran energy sources from wind power. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Tehran, 4 Muharram 1436/28 October 2014 (MINA) – Iran aims to produce 5,000 megawatts of electricity through renewable energy sources in the next five years, the oil ministry’s news agency Shana reported.

Iran is boosting its investments in energy, parallel to nuclear negotiations and the subsequent easing of Western sanctions against the country, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Several contracts have been signed for the construction of power plants to generate 7,000 megawatts of electricity from natural gas, and 1,000 megawatts from wind and solar power, according to an Iranian official cited by Shana.

The use of wind and solar power will double clean energy production, which currently stands at 1 percent.

Natural gas represents the biggest share in electricity production at nearly 70 percent. Oil is the second largest source for electricity production.

The country produces 10,000 megawatts of electricity from hydropower plants, representing about 5 percent of total electricity production. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)