Qatar, Iran may move to connect electric grids to make Iran 'energy hub' - analysis
The countries have talked about how
to use surplus electricity from Qatar by swapping with countries such as
Pakistan or Afghanistan and connecting Iran and Qatar electric grids
undersea.
Published:
FEBRUARY 20, 2022
THE WINNER of Iran’s presidential election, Ebrahim Raisi, looks on at a polling station in Iran this past Friday
(photo credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA/REUTERS)
Iran’s president intends to travel to Qatar in the coming days to deepen relations, the Iranian Fars News media agency said over the weekend.
One of the issues that may be on the agenda is the desire of the countries to expand cooperation on a variety of levels.
Over
the years, the countries have talked about how to use surplus
electricity from Qatar by swapping with countries such as Pakistan or
Afghanistan and connecting Iran and Qatar electric grids undersea. This
was reported back in 2020 and 2021.
What is known is that
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Qatar on Monday alongside a high-ranking delegation, according to Iranian media, Turkish media said.
“The
visit comes at the official invitation of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad Al Thani,” state news agency IRNA reported. During the visit, the
Iranian leader will witness the signing of several agreements and
memoranda of understanding between Tehran and Doha. The meetings will
include talks with Iranians who live in Qatar and also businesspeople.
![The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha (credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM AL OMARI)]( "The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha (credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM AL OMARI)")
The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha (credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM AL OMARI)“During
his visit, Raisi will also attend a three-day summit of the Gas
Exporting Countries Forum set to start Sunday in Qatar,” the Turkish
report said.
Fars
says “the connection of Iran-Qatar power grid in order to improve the
reliability of the power grid of the two countries is an issue that has
been on the agenda since last year.” There are many other issues the
countries may discuss as well.
There
will be representatives of various sectors, such as sport, energy and
culture. “In this regard, one of the most important instructions
discussed in this meeting was dedicated to the issue of connecting the
electricity network of the two countries using the sea transmission
line,” Fars says.
What are the benefits of such a connection?
Iran
says that its electric grid is an important hub of electricity in the
region and this can make Iran a major player in electricity supply. “In
addition to the deep importance of foreign policy and energy security,
Iran has become a hub for electricity generation and distribution in the
region.”
However,
Iran needs to invest in infrastructure to be an electricity hub.
“Countries in the region have taken many steps to replace Iran,” Fars
says. “For example, the German company Siemens, in the form of a
contract, aims to make Afghanistan a hub for electricity distribution in
the Central Asian region.”
It’s
not clear with the Taliban takeover how this would work for
Afghanistan. However, Qatar has hosted and backed the Taliban, so this
could be part of the Qatar regional agenda.
Qatar
partnered with Iran and the Taliban to swoop into Afghanistan after the
US left and profit off the change in power there while signing deals
with Iran to cement this new concept.
Germany,
perhaps on the sidelines, could work with all three countries because
Germany has long wanted more partnerships with Iran.
“The
first step is to take the country to become the electricity hub of the
region,” says Fars News about Iran. “In such circumstances, the news of
the connection of the electricity network between Iran and Qatar using
the offshore transmission line is considered the first step to return to
the path of Iran becoming the energy hub of the region and use all the
above benefits.”
The
article names Mohammad Ali Farahnakian as a key person involved in this
as an adviser to the Iranian energy minister. He was previously a
deputy energy minister. He says that “a joint Iran-Qatar commission
should be established in Qatar.”
It
is believed that Raisi’s new government wants to invest in
infrastructure, technology and issues such as electricity and space.
That means more connections with energy issues in Central Asia and a
general shift to the east in terms of Iran’s policy. Iran is
slow-playing the nuclear discussions in Vienna as it conducts the real
foreign policy it cares about with Qatar and others.