How severe do the U.S. sanctions effect your business in Iran? Is your business in the USA also effected?
All contracts, pro forma invoices and order confirmations which we can definitely verify, we can send without risk of a breach of the reintroduced sanctions of the USA to Iran and receive the payment for it. Regarding the definition of "sanctions on the Iranian energy sector", the general assumption of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) is that these are sanctions affect the oil and gas industry. Though the WKO will go here with lawyers in the coming days in the depth of the individual points and then inform us accordingly. We trust in the understanding that the WKO needs some more time here.
Do you plan still to further invest in Iran or rather to drop out of the country? What is your strategy?
As long as we don`t have a clear legal situation from the EU, we will continue our investments in setting up a service network and FSP program. Our action in Iran must be guided by the rules of export. That is, we will continue to have every customer we want to enter into a business be approved through the relevant offices in the Department of Commerce or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How important is the Iranian solar market for you?
The Iranian solar PV market was determined as a strategical very important supported export market for the residential and commercial sector to Fronius international.
How did your solar business there develop so far?
Very positive. We gained increasing market shares in the residential and commercial sector together with our local partner network of exisiting sales- and service partners. Especially, our Fronius Primo 5 kW WLAN/LAN/Webserver model with integrated monitoring and active cooling gained the top seller status. Recently Fronius won a tender with 2.000 5 kW female headed household installations, supported from the government.
In addition to our 1.5 MW Shahrekord and 1.2 MW KPV Kerman installation we have successfully accomplished numerous 100kW rooftop installations in the southern part of Iran.
Where do you still see major hurdles?
Due to the political instability international financing is difficult. The currency exchange rates amount to 40-60 percent. Direct payments from Iran to Austria are very time consuming. It is also complicated getting credit limits for local partners from international export credit insurances.
Interviewed by Hans-Christoph Neidlein
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More useful information:
http://www.pveurope.eu/News/Solar-Generator/Fronius-scores-with-its-service-in-Iran
http://www.pveurope.eu/News/Solar-Generator/Fronius-scores-with-its-service-in-Iran
http://www.pveurope.eu/News/Markets-Money/Solar-opportunities-in-Iran
https://www.pveurope.eu/solar-modules/iran-goes-solar-new-pv-plant-rafsanjan-inaugurated
