Page 68 - IRANRptAug22

Dozens hospitalised in Iranian city as heatwave temperatures exceed 51.5°C
Turkmenistan proposes electricity exports to countries via Iran
Farmers in Iran’s Isfahan reports no progress in addressing water shortages one year after mass protests
Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organisation.
“At 12 o'clock, when most of the administrative work is done and the number of clients decreases, devices that fail to comply with the [advised] consumption pattern and take more [power] than is in the electricity consumption pattern will be cut off,” Nasri said.
The utilities official added that 250 people from the electricity board were now actively investigating potential power-use offenders. Those found in breach of the required power use levels, such as those under a midday power-down framework, would have their electricity disconnected during the day, he said. Some companies and homes in Tehran have resorted to using large power banks and diesel generators to ensure they escape outages.
More than 50 people were hospitalised amid temperatures that reached in excess of 51.5°C in Iran’s western city of Dehloran as a severe heatwave hit the country, state broadcaster IRIB reported on June 21.
The extreme heat, which broke the city’s recorded all-time high temperature level, will be taken as another worrying sign that Iran will face the brunt of accelerating climate change due to its large land mass, geographical position and big population of 85mn, which is already facing significant water shortages in various localities.
The super-strong heat faced by the inhabitants of Dehloran and other areas led to the failure of electrical distribution boards, leaving people without operable air conditioning.
Earlier, local media reported that the summer of 2022 could be the hottest in the history of Iran, with widespread power failures anticipated.
Iran, meanwhile, has been shutting down even legal cryptocurrency mining operations nationwide to ease the strain the energy-thirsty enterprises place on the national power grid.
Turkmenistan has proposed exporting electricity via Iran to third countries, AKIPress reported on June 17.
Turkmenistan and Iran already conduct natural gas swaps, with Turkmenistan supplying gas to northern Iran and the Iranians in turn supplying power to Azerbaijan. Apart from Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, Iran has land borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Armenia and Turkey.
The completion and readiness for commissioning of the Iranian section of the Mary-Mashhad high-voltage power line was announced during talks between the presidents of Iran and Turkmenistan that took place in Tehran on June 15. The Turkmen side stated that the construction of the Turkmen section of the power line would soon begin.
Iran also promised to repay its gas debt to Turkmenistan.
Farmers in the central Iranian province of Isfahan have told Radio Farda that their difficulties with water shortages have not eased despite pledges by the government to increase water supplies.
Water shortages in the province led to mass protests in November last year and a violent government crackdown.
Iran is enduring water scarcity due to prolonged drought, reduced rainfall and what critics describe as years of mismanagement. For instance, experts accuse officials of encouraging the cultivation of water-thirsty crops such as rice in areas of the country of 85mn where water resources are stretched. There are some ongoing efforts to boost water desalination efforts by building new plants on the Persian Gulf coast, but desalination technology is expensive. Solving Iran’s mounting dilemma with water shortages will require a multi-pronged approach, say officials.
68 IRAN Country Report August 2022 www.intellinews.com