Iran close to commissioning 50-MW geothermal plant - report

Iran is preparing to bring live a 50-MW geothermal power plant in the Meshgin Shahr country in the northwest of the country in the summer, the county's representative in the Islamic Consultative Assembly told state-owned news agency IRNA on Wednesday.

The Meshgin Shahr plant, located at the foot of Mount Sabalan, is the country's first geothermal project. The commissioning will coincide with the peak in electricity consumption in the country, Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini said in an interview with IRNA.

So far, 11 exploration wells have been drilled at a depth of 3,200 m (3,500 yd) and seven of them have already been commissioned.

The problems and obstacles to the implementation of the project have been reviewed at a meeting with the senior advisor to Iran's energy minister, Homayoun Hayeri, and decisions have been made to complete the works necessary for the operation of the plant, Meshkini said.

Meshkini stressed that with the commissioning of the Meshgin Shahr power station, Iran will join the club of countries that own geothermal plants and noted that the plant is a national brand.

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