Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the 17.8-MW Taleqan Dam in a ceremony marking the third phase of the multipurpose project.
Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah and the Chinese ambassador and Chinese officials involved in building the project took part in the August 27 event on the Shahroud River 120 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
Completion of Taleqan Dam marks the third phase of the project. The first phase involved construction 30 years ago of the Sangban and Ziyaran diversion dams and a tunnel to carry water from Taleqan Valley to Ziyaran. The second phase was construction of canals to carry water from Ziyaran to Tehran.
The third phase, begun in 2001, included construction of the Taleqan reservoir dam and its power plant by Tehran Regional Water Co. and a Chinese company for US$142.9 million.
Ahmadinejad said Iran needs to make greater efforts to construct and develop the country and called for efforts to reduce project completion time.
The president also said he hoped Iran’s parliament would assist the government in making it easier to recruit foreign sources for energy and water development. He noted Iranian dam builders are active both domestically and on foreign projects. He said at least 84 dams are under construction across Iran.
