Iran plans to add close to 3,000 megawatts to its power plant capacity in the current fiscal (started March 21), boosting it to 80,000 MW, the energy minister said.
"About 2,100 MW of new power capacity were developed in 2017 with the help of government-affiliated companies as well as the private sector's financial resources," Reza Ardakanian was also quoted as saying by IRNA last week.
The energy minister noted that about $3.5 billion were invested in power plans last year.
"Some 54 thermal power units have gone on stream in the last four years," he said, adding that 8,000 MW were added to Iran's energy mix, pushing the total installed capacity to 77,000 MW. Plans have been devised to raise output to more than 84,000 MW by 2019.
Ardakanian further said more than one million new subscribers were added to the network in 2017, indicating a 3.5% hike compared with the corresponding period of 2016.
"The number of electricity subscribers nationwide has reached 35 million," he said.
Commenting on extending the power grid to far-flung destinations, Ardakanian added that 272 small towns and villages were provided with power facilities last year, increasing the number of remote areas connected to the grid to 57,665.
Water Projects
Referring to under-construction water and wastewater ventures, the minister noted that 40 mega projects will go on stream with the help of the National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company of Iran (Abfa) in 2018.
Giving a breakdown, he added that plans include building 26 wastewater treatment plants with the capacity of 483,000 cubic meters per day as well as constructing 12 water treatment plants with a capacity of 1 million cubic meters per day.
"Plans are in place to complete 13 dams with a capacity of 800 million cubic meters," Ardakanian said, adding that two desalination plants with the capacity of 29,500 cubic meters for drinking water and irrigation will also come on stream by the end of the current fiscal.
