TEHRAN (ecoideal)- Danish companies have voiced their willingness to invest $1 billion in developing renewable energy projects in Iran, a senior energy official said.
"Denmark's giant energy companies, including Siemens and Vestas, will contribute to implementing wind energy projects in Iran," President of the Iran Renewable and Wind Energy Association (IRWEA) Hashem Orayee told reporters.
The official reiterated that the Iranian Parliament has also approved the Danish investment plan, but it is yet to be implemented.
Orayee pointed to the development of renewable energy over past decade, and said, "By increasing the share of renewables, Denmark currently meets 43 percent of its electricity demands from renewable sources."
He underlined that the US, China and many European countries plan to cut dependence on fossil fuels,' and said, "By 2025, all of the electricity will be met from renewable energy sources."
Orayee reiterated that most countries prefer to establish fewer thermal power plants, and said, "Wind and solar energy are replacing the oil and gas in generating power,"
"Iran can generate 50 percent of its electricity from wind and solar energy by enabling its capacities," he added.
Orayee reiterated that the Iranian government plans to cede renewable energy projects to the private sector and will support Iranian companies in this respect.
In relevant remarks in late February 2016, Danish Ambassador to Iran Danny Annan said his country is set to invest in the Northwestern province of Zanjan.
Addressing a gathering of economic activists in Zanjan, Ambassador Annan voiced his country’s readiness to make various investments in the province, adding that excellent investment opportunities exist in Zanjan which need to be properly exploited in line with expansion of bilateral ties.
He pointed to the rich mineral resources of Zanjan, confirming that the mining sector remains as the most important area for Denmark to make investments while Zanjan offers good opportunities in the agricultural sector too.
“Danish investors hold contracts with largest Iranian dairy companies,” underlined the official emphasizing the need to facilitate the entry of foreign investors to the market.
Denmark has also announced willingness to build a wind-turbine production plant in Iran and expand bilateral cooperation in development of domestic renewable energy sector.
The long-term objective pursued by the Danish plant construction proposal is to turn Iran into a production hub, from which products can be exported to other regional countries, said Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian following his meeting with Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen.
He added that the main aim of the meeting was to represent the investment opportunities of the Iranian water and energy sectors to Danish financiers.
Source: Farsnews