The plants will be constructed under build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangements and a pre-agreement has already been signed for one project.
The four stations will be at Pareh-Sar, Tabriz, Jallal and Shirvan. Over the next ten years a total of 6000MW of new capacity will be added in Iran, supporting increasing demand and replacing old capacity. This may still leave the country with a shortfall as national estimates suggest that 14 000MW of additional capacity may be required over this period. Currently there are seven power projects under construction.
A pre-agreement for the construction of one of the four new schemes, at Pareh-Sar, has already been signed in the presence of energy ministers of Iran and Italy. The combined cycle station will have a capacity of around 1000MW and will be the first BOT power station in Iran.
The plant will be built close to the Caspian Sea. Construction will be carried out by a consortium of Iranian, Italian and German companies. Work will start next year, with commissioning due in three years.
Iran has also signed two energy agreements with Azerbiajan. Under the terms of one agreement, Iran and Azerbiajan will exchange power via Pars-Abad Maghan in Iran and Immishli in Azerbiajan. The second agreement involves using the Iranian power network to transfer electricity from Azerbiajan to the Republic of Nakhjavan. Both agreements will run until the end of 2004.
Meanwhile, work is continuing on the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The first 1000MW unit is due to become operational in early 2003. The project was originally started before the Iranian revolution and involved German technology. It was subsequently taken over by Russia.
