The Iranian Ministry of Energy has said 24 dams will have been completed by 20 March 2008, the end of the country's calendar year.

Five dams were recently completed – Mollasadra, Shian, Resali Delvari, Ekbatan and Sivand – and the 24 other dams are additional to the total, including Mamlu dam which is to add 200Mm3 to water resources.

Over recent months the Iranian authorities said that the country has 18 dam projects on schedule for completion by 20 March.

In addition, last month the Ministry of Energy said the country should have its hydro capacity increased to 6.5GW in the near future with the construction of 88 dams. No schedule was given nor details of how the projects relate, if at all, to those currently under construction.

In May, the total number of dams under construction was given as 85.

Recently, the Ministry of Water Affairs also commented that a further 176 potential dam projects were being examined.