"The permission for turning the gas power plants into combined cycle power plants have been received and related plans will be implemented this year which is named as the year of "Political Epic, Economic Epic" by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Namjou said on Monday.
He further played down the impacts of enemies' pressures and sanctions on Iran's progress in industrial and energy sectors, and said, "Despite the desperate attempts and pressures of the enemies, there is no obstacle on the way of the Iranian nation's progress."
In February, Iran inaugurated Shirkouh combined cycle power plant in the country's Central province of Yazd.
The Shirkouh power plant has the capacity to produce 484 megawatts of electricity. It has been built on a 50-hectare stretch of land and is located 26 kilometers from the city of Yazd.
A total of 600bln rials plus 247mln euros has been invested in Shirkouh power plant.
In January, the Iranian president also inaugurated Shahid Bastami and Quds combined power plants with a total production capacity of 648 megawatts of electricity in the country's Northern province of Semnan.
Shahid Bastami combined cycle power plant with a production capacity of 324 megawatts of electricity is located in Shahrood city of Semnan province. Quds power plant also with a production capacity of 324 megawatts is located in the city of Semnan.
Iran has recently made huge investment in the energy sector.
With the implementation of subsidy reforms law, not only domestic electricity consumption has reduced but also annual growth in electricity demand has been checked, thus paving the way for further export of electricity to the neighboring countries.
Iran has power swap deals with Armenia, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Afghanistan and the autonomous region of Nakhichevan.
