Iran, Russia Push Forward on Power Grid Connection, Energy Cooperation

Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev met Monday to review progress on a roadmap for bilateral power cooperation. Discussions covered grid interconnection, equipment imports and exports, construction of the joint Sirik power plant, and the formation of joint working groups to speed up strategic projects.

The officials also revisited a 2019 economic study by Russian engineering firm Monenco on connecting the Iranian and Russian grids through Azerbaijan. They discussed forming a trilateral working group with Azerbaijan's energy ministry to explore transferring a limited amount of power from southern Russia to Iran, particularly during summer months, if conditions allow.

Under a broader roadmap for scientific and technical cooperation, the two sides emphasized gas turbine technology transfer, domestic production of components, construction of 765-kilovolt transmission lines, smart grid development, high-voltage equipment supply, joint hydropower projects, and the creation of a carbon market to address climate change.

Aliabadi thanked Tsivilev for attending farewell ceremonies for the late leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution, calling the meeting significant given the two countries' extensive cooperation on electrical interconnection, power equipment, and both renewable and conventional energy.

He said the companies responsible for the Sirik power plant project should continue their partnership, with both governments backing the effort to meet its goals. Aliabadi described the new Iran-Russia working group as one of the meeting's most important outcomes, saying it would help advance joint projects, including the grid connection.

He also pointed to Iran's 14th administration's focus on energy storage, noting that while hydropower once served as the primary storage method, the government is now prioritizing storage systems at various scales — from residential to industrial — with continued Russian cooperation in that area.

Tsivilev, speaking alongside Aliabadi, said the two sides agreed to form a joint working group that includes private-sector representatives to accelerate implementation of their agreements. On the Sirik plant, he said some issues still require review, but the companies involved should continue cooperating under their contract, expressing hope that the two ministries can resolve remaining obstacles. - Shana