Addressing a group of the staff of the local Ramin power plant, president Khatami said that existence of such huge God given resources as oil, gas and water in Khouzestan have changed economic appearance of Khouzestan.

President Khatami lauded services of Ramin power plant for operationing the great production unit and said construction and operationing of any power plant is a giant step in the development plan because power is an infrastructural affair and promotes man kind's life expectancy.

The president said that Ramin power plant is the biggest thermal power plant in the country and one of the poles for energy generation in the country.

He thanked all officials, engineers, staffers and workers, whose efforts provided Iranians with facilities of the power plant.

He added that 92 billion kilo watts per hour of power have been generated in the country since start of the year on March 21, 1999, and the figure is expected to reach 100 billion kilo watts per hour by the year end on March 20, 2000.

The president said about 40 percent of the generated energy were consumed by the industry and agriculture sectors and the remaining 60 percent went to commercial and house hold uses. He said the ratio is not proper and the imbalance should be changed in favor of the agriculture and industrial sectors in future, he added.

The president said that power is presented to consumers at cheaper prices. One of the pivots of the third plan (2000-2005) is to offer direct subsidies and rls 2,200 billion in credit has been set aside for this purpose.

President Khatami then offered certificate of merit to Mr. Salajeqeh, the executor of the project for expansion of local Ramin thermal power plant.

Prior to the president's remarks, minister of energy Habibollah Bitaraf said the country's energy generation capacity has risen to about 26,000 mega watts from 7,724 mega watts at the outset of the revolution.

Bitaraf said the share of Khouzestan in total amount of energy produced in the country was 3,800 mega watts. He said the figure is expected to increase following operationing of three dams in Khouzestan province.

President Khatami on Wednesday wrapped up his one-day visit to the southern province and returned to Tehran along with his accompanying delegation including ministers of energy, agriculture and defense. President Khatami speaking to reporters at Ahvaz airport expressed satisfaction with his visit to the province and hoped to return here in the near future for inauguration of more big projects. During his one-day visit the president inaugurated imam Khomeini sugarcane production plant as well as fifth and sixth units of Ramin power plant.