Russian Gas Turbines May Be Repaired in Iran
Russian Gas Turbines May Be Repaired in Iran
16 May
Evgeny Grabchak, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, said that Russia and Iran may launch joint ventures on gas turbines manufacturing. He announced that after the session “Russia – Iran: Localisation of Gas Turbine Production” held as part of the XVI International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”.
“In any event, economic benefits come first. Our Iranian partners offered three ways for developing our partnership: direct localisation; industrial siting on the territory of the Russian Federation; and transfer of knowledge and technologies between the parties engaged. Regarding the formation of joint ventures: if it is done in a cost-effective manner and we can agree on terms that suit both sides, then sure, why not,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Evgeny Grabchak noted that Russia and Iran are currently in the middle of the talks. According to him, the Russian side is open to various proposals. “Clearly, the first step is the service of our turbines and spare parts in Iran. We are considering blade restoration, casting, and so on. This is the stepping stone towards starting the exchange of technology and best practices. We are primarily interested in 25 MW mobile gas turbine stations,” he said.
Grabchak also stressed that Russia is not yet entering into large-scale localisation of gas turbine production, even with Iranian partners; such statements are quite ahead of time.
“Right now, we are only studying, selecting, and developing ways to advance power engineering, most particularly, gas turbine manufacturing. We find Iran’s experience in this area very valuable, as the country has been existing in similar conditions to us for more than 15 years: their technical transfer and opportunities to use highly efficient world-class technology are limited. We are looking for solutions taking into account the insufficient volume of gas turbine production and the country’s energy development plans, as well as the need for new processes for the construction of power plants based on gas turbine technology,” Evgeny Grabchak said.
According to him, Russia can provide Iranian turbine manufacturers with a market and share a number of practices: for example, for high and ultra-high voltage lines. “What can we gain from them? –– It is the hot-processing procedures, the casting, the blades: the things we are now only mastering,” he noted.
At the same time, the issue of how Iranian turbines entering our market will affect Russian manufacturers remains open. “We never want to just let anyone into the Russian market too quickly. We want to act wisely. We aim to get what we need, not just open the market. That is why the matter of co-operation is being examined now. Obviously, we are interested in developing expertise. We know that our market is not big and having many manufacturers is something we cannot afford. However, having a monopolist can be costly as well. Therefore, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, we are looking for ways to maintain the balance,” Evgeny Grabchak emphasised.
The Deputy Minister also noted the existence of a backlog in the production of this equipment along with certain achievements. For example, Russia launched the first mass-produced domestic high-capacity gas turbine GTD-110M last October. It was used to equip the third power unit of the new Udarnaya TPP commissioned in the Krymsky District of the Krasnodar Territory. Construction and installation work are underway to install the GTE-170 turbine. However, Evgeny Grabchak highlighted the need to ensure competition to improve technical efficiency.
“We are caught in a bit of a dilemma: the Russian gas turbine construction market is quite small. On the other hand, we would like to have more offers and solutions. Localisation is a way to have room for manoeuvre, and at the same time, to motivate domestic manufacturers to increase R&D and master technologies; as well as consider price competition –– it is certainly important to reduce the final cost of a kilovolt,” he concluded.
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The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, which was granted federal status in 2022 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, is being held for the 16th time on 14 16 May 2025. The Programme includes 200 events such as a Congress of Ministers of Transport within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Ministers of Culture within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Prosecutors General within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Auditors within the Islamic countries; the world’s largest conference on Islamic finance; conferences on the halal industry; a forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry within the Islamic countries; as well as international exhibitions on economy, trade, and real estate held over 40 thousand sq. m. Representatives from 103 countries registered to participate in 2025. In 2024, the Event gathered more than 20 thousand participants from 87 countries, 87 constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, along with more than 40 diplomatic missions.
“In any event, economic benefits come first. Our Iranian partners offered three ways for developing our partnership: direct localisation; industrial siting on the territory of the Russian Federation; and transfer of knowledge and technologies between the parties engaged. Regarding the formation of joint ventures: if it is done in a cost-effective manner and we can agree on terms that suit both sides, then sure, why not,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Evgeny Grabchak noted that Russia and Iran are currently in the middle of the talks. According to him, the Russian side is open to various proposals. “Clearly, the first step is the service of our turbines and spare parts in Iran. We are considering blade restoration, casting, and so on. This is the stepping stone towards starting the exchange of technology and best practices. We are primarily interested in 25 MW mobile gas turbine stations,” he said.
Grabchak also stressed that Russia is not yet entering into large-scale localisation of gas turbine production, even with Iranian partners; such statements are quite ahead of time.
“Right now, we are only studying, selecting, and developing ways to advance power engineering, most particularly, gas turbine manufacturing. We find Iran’s experience in this area very valuable, as the country has been existing in similar conditions to us for more than 15 years: their technical transfer and opportunities to use highly efficient world-class technology are limited. We are looking for solutions taking into account the insufficient volume of gas turbine production and the country’s energy development plans, as well as the need for new processes for the construction of power plants based on gas turbine technology,” Evgeny Grabchak said.
According to him, Russia can provide Iranian turbine manufacturers with a market and share a number of practices: for example, for high and ultra-high voltage lines. “What can we gain from them? –– It is the hot-processing procedures, the casting, the blades: the things we are now only mastering,” he noted.
At the same time, the issue of how Iranian turbines entering our market will affect Russian manufacturers remains open. “We never want to just let anyone into the Russian market too quickly. We want to act wisely. We aim to get what we need, not just open the market. That is why the matter of co-operation is being examined now. Obviously, we are interested in developing expertise. We know that our market is not big and having many manufacturers is something we cannot afford. However, having a monopolist can be costly as well. Therefore, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, we are looking for ways to maintain the balance,” Evgeny Grabchak emphasised.
The Deputy Minister also noted the existence of a backlog in the production of this equipment along with certain achievements. For example, Russia launched the first mass-produced domestic high-capacity gas turbine GTD-110M last October. It was used to equip the third power unit of the new Udarnaya TPP commissioned in the Krymsky District of the Krasnodar Territory. Construction and installation work are underway to install the GTE-170 turbine. However, Evgeny Grabchak highlighted the need to ensure competition to improve technical efficiency.
“We are caught in a bit of a dilemma: the Russian gas turbine construction market is quite small. On the other hand, we would like to have more offers and solutions. Localisation is a way to have room for manoeuvre, and at the same time, to motivate domestic manufacturers to increase R&D and master technologies; as well as consider price competition –– it is certainly important to reduce the final cost of a kilovolt,” he concluded.
***
The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, which was granted federal status in 2022 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, is being held for the 16th time on 14 16 May 2025. The Programme includes 200 events such as a Congress of Ministers of Transport within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Ministers of Culture within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Prosecutors General within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Auditors within the Islamic countries; the world’s largest conference on Islamic finance; conferences on the halal industry; a forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry within the Islamic countries; as well as international exhibitions on economy, trade, and real estate held over 40 thousand sq. m. Representatives from 103 countries registered to participate in 2025. In 2024, the Event gathered more than 20 thousand participants from 87 countries, 87 constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, along with more than 40 diplomatic missions.
