Iran's thermal power company says about 3,000 MW was added to thermal generation capacity

Azim Etemadi, managing director of Iran's Thermal Power Plants Holding Company, said in a television interview reported on Friday, 31 July 2026 (9 Mordad 1405), that about 3,000 MW has been added to the country's thermal generation capacity since Mordad of last year. He said this year's peak electricity consumption record was set on 5 Mordad 1405, and that with the summer consumption peak passing and temperatures easing, supply to customers will be steadier in the days ahead.

Etemadi said the forced outage rate for thermal plants during this summer's peak was 1.2 percent, against 4 to 5 percent in global statistics, and that plant availability reached 98.8 percent. He added that installation and commissioning of gas unit four at the Neka power plant was completed in 99 days, compared with 130 days for unit three last year.

According to the same official, Iran's first geothermal power plant, with a capacity of 5.4 MW and a 90 percent capacity factor, entered service in the Meshgin Shahr area. Seventeen wells of 3,000 metres have been drilled at the site, of which only one is currently in pilot operation. The figures and assessments in this report are attributed to the managing director of the thermal power company. Reliable electricity supply is one of the variables affecting hot-season output at energy-intensive listed industries such as steel, cement and petrochemicals.