TEHRAN, Iran, May 5
Trend:
Iran plans to increase energy production in current Iranian year (started March 20, 2020), while the dams' installation across the country created safe conditions to prevent possible floods, said Iranian minister of energy.
"Increasing production, reducing damages and distribution to power networks are the priorities of the ministry in the current Iranian year," said Reza Ardakanian, Trend reports citing IRNA.
"Eighteen power plants with production capacity of 3,000 megawatt were commissioned, and 59 renewable power plants with production capacity of 400 megawatt were put into operation," he said.
"Furthermore, construction of 25 big water, power and sewage plants worth $4 billion is ongoing in Markazi province," he said adding that more than 25 percent of country's renewable energy plants are located in this province.
"The coronavirus outbreak has created problems for people, and only 20 percent of power and water costs in the country were paid by consumers," he said. "Meanwhile, the water consumption has increased by 40 percent in some regions during this time."
"More than 50 major wetlands in the country including Hamoon were fully filled by rains and are in a good condition," he added. "The volume of rainfall has reduced by 7 percent comparing to last Iranian year [started March 21, 2019], but increased by 35 percent within past 50 years."