During a media briefing in Abu Dhabi, Chemezov announced that Russia plans to sign a contract with Iran for the supply of turbines for thermal power stations in Crimea.
According to him, negotiations with Iran are at an advanced stage and Rotec expects to install the turbines before the end of this year.
“We have problems with turbines after German and other European countries banned their supply to Crimea. We are now in the final stages of negotiations and we hope that, barring any additional US and European sanctions, we will be able to install these turbines before this year is out,” Chemezov said.
Even though Iran has not recognized Crimea’s reunification with Russia, it is ready to assist Moscow’s efforts to ensure an unfettered energy supply on the Black Sea peninsula.
In an interview with Sputnik Persian, Tehran-based political analyst Shoeib Bahman said that economic cooperation with Crimea could speed up the process of the international recognition of the region as part of the Russian Federation.
He mentioned the great deal of attention Tehran and Moscow paid to technological and other exchanges between the two countries.
He added that Iran prioritized business ties with Russia and that the deal on the supply of turbines to Crimea was dictated by the longtime and mutually beneficial economic cooperation between the two countries.
“We are not raising the issue of Crimea’s recognition now, but we believe that, at the end of the day, this contract could serve as a basis for our dialogue on this issue.”
“Our countries are acting fully in line with international agreements. There are countries which are willing to invest in Russia, sign contracts with it and supply equipment in line with international law and conventions. Iran is not an exception,” Shoeib Bahman concluded.
This year, Russia’s Tekhnopromexport Company is scheduled to commission two combined-cycle thermal power plants 470 MW each in Simferopol and Sevastopol, which should resolve the energy problems in Crimea, which is cut off from supplies from Ukraine.
They imposed a number of individual and economic sanctions against Russia, driving Russia to retaliate with a ban on various imports from Europe.
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