Baghdad Demands Iranian Companies to Play Stronger Role in Iraq Reconstruction

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq's Electricity Minister Raad Shallal Saeed al-Any asked Iranian firms and companies to play a stronger role in the reconstruction of his war-torn country, specially in power plant construction projects.
The Iraqi minister made the remark during a visit to Iran Power Plant Projects Management Company (MAPNA) in the capital Tehran on Tuesday, MNA reported.

He further stated that "Iran can have serious participation in reconstruction of Iraq's power industry", and added that his country is keen to install the turbines built by MAPNA, a major general contractor of energy projects in Iran, in its power plants.

Saeed al-Any went on to say that energy cooperation between Iran and Iraq will boost in the future.

On Monday, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou said during a meeting with Saeed al-Any that Iran has raised power supplies to Iraq to 1,250 megawatts following a recent agreement between the two neighboring countries.

"Iran exports 800 megawatts of power to Iraq at present and the figure is expected to rise to 1,250 megawatts according to a decision taken by both countries recently," Namjou said in a meeting in Tehran with.

The Iranian minister also said that a 400-megawatt transmission line from Karkha to Ammara will also be accomplished during the current summer season.

"The Iraqi side has confirmed the necessity to construct the Khorramshahr-Abuflous line, expected to be completed in summer, 2012, through sending a technical team and settling problems, in order to increase Iran's power supplies to Iraq.

Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, in 2003.

Both sides are working on a series of plans to take wide strides in expanding their ties.