TEHRAN – With 12 new power plant construction projects inaugurated in the Government Week (August 23-29), Iran’s nominal electricity generation capacity will reach 80,000 megawatts (MW) in near future, Mehr news agency reported on Monday.

According to the report, the total generation capacity of the inaugurated projects will be 6,084 MW with a 178.337 trillion rials (about $5 billion) finance.

However, one of the goals of the country’s electricity industry within the framework of the sixth Five-Year National Development Plan (2016-2021) is to boost electricity generation to more than 100,000 MW.

During the current Iranian calendar year of 1395 (started on March 20, 2016) with the operation of 10 new power plants, the country’s electricity production capacity has reached 74,000 MW, Mehr reported.

In line with starting the new power plant projects, three new thermal plants with a total capacity of 3,460 MW will be also inaugurated and start operating in the Iranian calendar month of Shahrivar (August22-September 21).

During the mentioned period, 22 renewable energy projects (solar and wind power) will also become operational across the country.

Earlier in July, Mohammad Sadeqzadeh, the managing director of Renewable Energy Organization of Iran, Known as SUNA, announced that the Islamic Republic will add renewable energy plants with the total generation capacity of 100 MW by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2017).

EF/MA