In the meeting between the Minister of Energy of Iran Ali Akbar Mehrabian and the visiting new foreign minister of Niger Bakary Yaou Sangaré in Tehran, the Iranian minister stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of electricity production.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Iranian energy minister said that the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to expand ties with different countries.
Offering congratulation on gaining the independence of Niger, he said that Iran and Niger have many similarities with each other in terms of efforts to get rid of dependence and achieve independence. The Iranian minister also said that the people and government of Iran experienced such independence in the past 44 years since 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mehrabian considered energy and electricity as one of the important tools that colonial countries do not allow other countries to make decisions independently on them, adding that “All the countries that stood against Arrogance throughout history faced various challenges and problems in the field of energy and electricity.”
The energy minister delivered a promise to cooperate in the field of support, provision of electrical and energy technology and equipment with Niger, stating, “This process should be carried out through expert reviews by experts in Iran’s electricity industry and in short- and medium-term planning.”
Referring to Niger’s potential and desirable capacity for electricity production, he continued, “The great Niger River has a good capacity to build a hydroelectric power plant; Domestic Iranian experts have built many hydropower plants in Iran and some other countries.”
Niger’s foreign minister pointed to the long-standing cooperation between Iran and Niger over the past years, saying, “The presence of the Iranian embassy in Niger shows the solidarity between the two sides. He stressed that, “coordination and cooperation between the two sides should be win-win and beneficial.”
Sangaré expressed hope that the people in his country would not face a difficult hot summer because of lack of electricity.
Referring to the presence of rich water resources in Niger, he saidو “These resources will meet our dire need for electricity supply from the neighboring country. He stated that 80 megawatts of electricity are being produced in Niger every day, adding, “We are trying to prevent power outages in the summer season, but we are facing a lack of facilities.”
KI/ISNA1402080201567
