Kerman province, with its rich mineral and sunny capacities, is recognized as one of the most suitable areas in the country for renewable energy production. However, the lack of investment from large industries in this field has clearly exacerbated the energy imbalance in the province.
Solar Energy Potential in Kerman
Kerman province, with over 300 sunny days a year, could become one of the hubs for solar energy production. However, studies show that large industries and mines in the province have become mere electricity consumers instead of participating in clean energy production, and no effective investment has been made in this area.
Read more: Pennsylvania and Billions of Dollars for Surplus Coal: Green Challenges
This situation is while the mining and industrial sectors of the province earn substantial profits annually from the extraction and processing of minerals. However, it seems that these profits do not contribute to the development of energy and environmental infrastructure in the province, and the pollution caused by these industries has become one of the serious challenges facing the province.
Legal Commitments and Non-Implementation
According to legal resolutions, large industries are required to supply part of their energy needs from renewable sources. While in other provinces, industries have engaged in energy production by constructing solar power plants, this approach is rarely seen in Kerman. Provincial officials have repeatedly emphasized the necessity of industry participation in solar energy production, but these emphases have yet to yield practical results.
Ali-Asghar Zakeri-Herandi, the Deputy for Urban Development Coordination of Kerman Province, stated: "At the beginning of the year, we committed to generating 680 megawatts of solar energy in Kerman Province by the end of the year." This is while the current power capacity of the province is only 210 megawatts, and with the opening of new projects, 132 megawatts will be added to this amount.
Majid Doostali, the representative of the people of Kerman and Ravar in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, has also emphasized the necessity of maximizing the province's potential in the field of solar energy and has called for serious industry involvement in the production of clean energy. He stated: "Without the participation of these industries, the electricity imbalance crisis will not be resolved."
In a situation where Kerman Province is grappling with issues such as unemployment, lack of healthcare and educational infrastructure, and environmental degradation, it is expected that large industries will take steps towards renewable energy production instead of being mere electricity consumers.
Read more: SkyTruth's New Analysis of Oil Pollution from Ships in the Oceans · New Fuel Management Plan in Kerman; Reducing Smuggling and Distribution Problems
