16 February 2005 - The Iranian news agency IRNA reports that the 35 MW Kouhrang hydropower plant was inaugurated in this southwestern province on Tuesday in the presence of Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf.

The plant, established at a cost of 350 billion rials ($39.5m), has a projected capacity of 128 GWh of energy annually. The Kouhrang Hydro Power Plant, located 86 km west of the provincial capital Shahr-e Kord Kouhrang, has created 600 job opportunities for provincial residents.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Bitaraf said that Iran's hydropower electricity production will rise from 4000 MW to 12 000 MW by the end of the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan.