Energy minister hails Iran as world's major dam constructor

Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian said Iran is now known as a major dam constructor in the world and is running large projects abroad.
"Today our industrialists are working in different countries and they are in charge of major (industrial) projects," Chitchian said, addressing an opening ceremony held for Ivshan reservoir dam in the city of Khorramabad, Western Iran, on Monday.
The Iranian energy minister underlined that the world's biggest dam projects are implemented by Iranian engineers now.
Chitchian also informed that two dams will be inaugurated in the Western Lorestan province during the 10-Day Dawn (marking the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran).
In December, a senior official of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the country's self-sufficiency in designing and building dams.
"The Iranian experts are building all dams (on their own) and we have become self-sufficient in dam construction," Managing Director of IRGC's Cooperative Foundation Parviz Fattah said.
He noted that the country is currently exporting engineering services in designing, constructing and operating dams and power plants to over 40 countries.
In similar remarks in May, Chitchian announced the country's self-sufficiency in the construction of dams and power plants.
Iran is a leading country in dam construction and many countries, including Sri Lanka, Syria, and Tajikistan as well as several African states, have entered either dam construction or consultation projects with Tehran.
In August 2013, Chitchian announced that Iran’s private sector had shown interest to contribute to development projects, specially dam construction, and it would construct its first dam in the current Iranian year (started on March 21).