Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian will inaugurate eight water and electricity projects during his visit to the southern Khuzestan Province, Fars news agency reported.
The first phase of Ramhormoz water treatment facility, irrigation and drainage network and a pumping station in the East Sho'aibieh were inaugurated by the minister on Wednesday.
The minister will also inaugurate Ramhormoz diversion dam, water transfer pipelines to Darkhovein oil development infrastructure, water supply project for Shadegan County, water treatment facility of Jongieh water supply complex, the fifth and sixth gas units of Khoramshahr power plant, steam units of Abadan combined-cycle power plant, water supply project for Abadan, and Dejdasht-e-Azadegan irrigation and drainage project.
Shadegan water supply project, costing $16.5 million (550 billion rials), is among the ministry's major projects in Khuzestan Province, Chitchian said, adding that a total of $1.5 billion is to be allocated by the National Development Fund of Iran for water and agricultural projects in the oil-rich province.
Abadan combined-cycle power plant's electricity generation capacity will reach 815 megawatts (MW) and the plant's efficiency will be enhanced by 50 percent once the two steam units, each with a 160 MW capacity, go into operation. Power capacity of the plant's gas division is currently 494 MW. The power plant was constructed at a cost of 138 million euros, plus 667 billion rials ($10 million).
Development of Khoramshahr power plant's gas units, each with a capacity of 162 MW, will increase the plant's efficiency from the present 33.8 percent to 49.9 percent, and power generation capacity to 1452 MW. A total of 130 million euros has been invested for construction of the gas units.
Chitchian will also inspect water and electricity projects in the region, including the Behbahan power plant, East Ahvaz water and wastewater treatment facility, Khoramshahr wastewater facility, Abadan wastewater facility, Balaroud (Andimeshk) dam, Dezful water supply project and Lali water facility project.
Khuzestan is one of the 31 provinces in Iran. It is in the southwest, bordering Iraq's Basra Province and the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Ahvaz and it covers an area of 63,238 square kilometers.
