Iranian president inaugurates Abadan’s gas-operating power plant
IRNA news agency, Tehran
24 May 04
Abadan, Khuzestan Province, 24 May: President Mohammad Khatami Monday
24 May inaugurated a gas-operating power plant in this southwestern
city.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Khatami said God-given assets of
Khuzestan Province, like resistance of its patient people, are unique.
He added the power plant would add some 500 Megawatts of electricity
to the national capacity, saying Khuzestan province accounts for 25
per cent of the national power generation.
The president noted that Abadan power plant would play a key role in
the country’s development and progress.
The gas-operating power plant in Abadan, with a nominal capacity
of 493.6 Megawatts, has four gas turbines, each with a capacity of
123.4 Megawatts.
The project whose construction was started three years ago has cost
94 million euros, 23 million dollars and 450 billion rials to provide
electricity to the southern regions of Khuzestan and to tackle shortage
of electricity in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities particularly during
peak hours.
According to Petroenergy Information Network, Iranian power stations
have to boost their capacities at a rate of 3,000 Megawatts per annum.
The Third Five-Year National Economic Development Plan calls for
contribution of the private sector to building power stations.
Power stations throughout the country generated more than 148 million
kilowatts per hour of electricity in the last calendar year (ended
19 March).
Power output was higher than what had been predicted in the third
five-year national plan. The generation was also higher than
neighbours.
Demand for electricity exceeded 27,000 Megawatts last year. The figure
grew more than 2,000 Megawatts.
The national demand for electricity will hit 44,000 Megawatts by
the end of the fourth five-year development plan (in March 2010)
and the country should boost its capacity to 56,000 Megawatts per hour.
Iran’s power network is connected to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan,
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Iran will supply power to