The Iranian company "Azar Ab" engaged in reconstruction and overhauling the 170 megawatts power plant in Syria. Some dlrs 62 million spent on the project.

Later in the day, Fattah and the Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri discussed joint energy projects currently under construction.

Several Iranian companies are involved in various projects in Syria whose worth exceed one billion dollars, Irna reported.

Iran-Syria cooperation in the energy sector, building and interconnection of power transmission lines of two countries to each other and exchange of the relevant experts and technology were discussed.

Syrian Minister of Electricity Ahmad Khalid al-Ali and Iranian Ambassador to Damascus Mohammad-Hassan Akhtari also attended the meeting.

Fattah arrived in Syria on Wednesday night to hold talks with Syrian officials and attend the inaugural ceremony of reconstruction of two power plants at the resort city of Banias.

Speaking to reporters, Fattah said that Iran-Syria relations are growing in all fields, particularly in the domain of energy.

The minister also referred to cooperation between the two countries in the field and the investments of Iranians in Syrian energy sector.

Fattah said that his visit to Syria took place within the framework of strengthening cooperation between the two sides in the field of electricity.

For his part, Khaled al-Ali referred to Iran"s progress in refurbishing infrastructure and declared interest in using the Iranians" relevant experience and facilities.

Fattah has said that 76 dams are under construction nationwide and the figure is to reach 85 by next March.

Inaugurating a water distribution network related to Shirvan dam in North Khorasan province, Parviz Fattah said that within the next ten years all dams needed to harness surface water in the country are scheduled to be constructed.

He added that at present 176 dam projects are being studied.

Fattah remarked that the supply of electricity and potable water for all people of the country is among the strategic targets of the government.

He further said that some 32 billion cubic meters of surface water in the country are controlled by dams and this figure will reach 40 billion cubic meters by the end of the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (2005-2010).

Meanwhile, Fattah said that North Khorasan province would export electricity during the Iranian March 2008-2009 following the completion of Shirvan combined cycle power plant. Fattah made the remark during his visit to the power plant. He urged speedy completion of Shirvan power plant.

A Majlis deputy, Hossein Afarideh, who represents Shirvan, told IRNA that the construction of the combined cycle power plant had shown a physical progress of over 97 percent.

In related news, Iran"s Ministry of Energy intends to sign a substantial deal worth $2 billion to construct 10 water dams in the country.

Deputy of Water Department affiliated to the Iranian Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday that the deals will be finalized within two weeks.

Rasoul Zargar added that the cabinet has approved a $ 1 billion budget to develop irrigation facilities for over 200,000 hectares throughout the country.

He also expressed satisfaction over the increasing participation of Asian and European companies in Iranian projects.